Platelet degranulation is associated with progression of intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2.
BACKGROUND
Platelets play a key role in atherogenesis and thromboembolic complications in patients with type 2 diabetes.


RESULTS
We prospectively examined the relationship between systemic platelet activation and progression of carotid wall thickness within 1 year in 105 patients with type 2 diabetes. The intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery was measured bilaterally at study entry and after 1 year. Platelet activation was assessed with the use of immunologic markers of platelet activation (CD62P, CD63, and CD40L) and flow cytometry. The prevalence for progression of atherosclerotic carotid disease in this population was 55.2%. We found that platelet degranulation (CD63 and CD40L) correlated with progression of IMT within 1 year (CD63: r=0.231, P=0.022; CD40L: r=0.230, P=0.029). Diabetic patients with progression of IMT had a significantly increased expression of CD63 compared with patients with stable carotid disease (mean intensity of immunofluorescence; median, interquartile range: 17.1 [12.4, 25.8] versus 11.9 [7.7, 19.8]; P=0.004). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that degranulation of platelet CD63 is a predictor for progression of IMT independently of classical cardiovascular risk factors and hemoglobin A1c in diabetic patients (P=0.017).


CONCLUSIONS
Enhanced systemic platelet degranulation is associated with progression of carotid artery disease in type 2 diabetes.
Fateh-Moghadam
Suzanne
S
Medizinische Klinik III, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Strasse 10, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany. suzanne.fateh-moghadam@charite.de
Li
Zonyang
Z
Ersel
Simon
S
Reuter
Thomas
T
Htun
Patrik
P
Plöckinger
Ursula
U
Bocksch
Wolfgang
W
Dietz
Rainer
R
Gawaz
Meinrad
M
D000368:Aged; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D015550:Cell Degranulation; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000473:pathology*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography