'Spontaneous' platelet aggregation in whole blood in diabetic patients with and without microvascular disease.
Consistent abnormalities of agonist-induced platelet aggregation, in either whole blood or platelet rich plasma, have not been demonstrated in diabetic patients without microvascular disease. In the present study platelet aggregation in the absence of exogenous agonists ('spontaneous' aggregation) was compared between 22 non-diabetic subjects and 23 Type 1 diabetic patients with (n = 12) and without (n = 11) microvascular disease. 'Spontaneous' aggregation was determined by measuring the percentage fall in single platelet number in aliquots of whole blood shaken for 60 min. Diabetic patients without microvascular disease had fewer single platelets remaining (greater aggregation) than non-diabetic subjects at all time-points (69.7 +/- 6.6 vs 82.3 +/- 7.3% at 60 min p less than 0.001), but more platelets remaining than in diabetic patients with microvascular disease at all time-points (69.7 +/- 6.6 vs 61.0 +/- 7.8% at 60 min p less than 0.02). No significant correlations were observed between platelet aggregation and plasma glucose, blood cell counts, or glycated haemoglobin levels. The study suggests that platelet abnormalities antedate the appearance of microvascular disease in diabetic patients.
Hendra
T J
TJ
Academic Unit of Diabetes and Endocrinology, University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, Whittington Hospital, London, UK.
Yudkin
J S
JS
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000097:blood*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D010976:Platelet Count; D012016:Reference Values
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin