Markers of platelet activation are increased in adolescents with type 2 diabetes

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: In adults with diabetes, in vivo platelet activation is a marker for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD). This pilot study investigated whether adolescents with diabetes had evidence of increased in vivo platelet activation. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: In vivo platelet activation was compared in four groups of age-matched adolescents: type 1 diabetes (T1D, n = 15), type 2 diabetes (T2D; n = 15), control subjects with normal BMI (n = 14), and overweight/obese control subjects (n = 13). Platelet surface activation markers and plasma levels of soluble activation markers were measured and compared among groups. RESULTS: Increased expression of all activation markers was observed in T2D compared with either control group (P < 0.05); levels of soluble markers were also higher in T2D than in T1D (P < 0.05). There were no differences in marker expression between the nondiabetic control groups. CONCLUSIONS: Platelet activation in adolescents with T2D may be a marker for the risk of CVD development in early adulthood. © 2014 by the American Diabetes Association.