Platelet Volume and Urinary Prostanoid Metabolites in Non Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

To evaluate platelet activity in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), we measured the mean platelet volume (MPV) and 24-hour urinary excretion of 11 dehydro thromboxane B2 (11-dTXB2) and 6-keto prostaglandin F1α (6-kPGF1α), stable metabolites of thromboxane A2 and prostacyclin, respectively. The MPV of the 103 subjects in the NIDDM group were 10.72 ±0.82 fl for males and 10.52 ± 1.01 fI for females (mean± SD), significantly higher than those of normal controls (9.95 ±0.75 fI for males and 9.84 ± 0.72 fl for females). The MPV of patients with NIDDM showed positive correlations with fasting plasma glucose level and HbA1c (r = 0.234, P<0.05 ; r = 0.267, P<0.01, respectively). The urinary excretion of 11 dTXB2 was greater in the NIDDM group (7.58 ± 4.42 μg/day for males and 5.65±2.38 μg/day for females) than in the normal controls (4.61±2.31 and 3.83 ±1.60, respectively), suggesting that the synthesis of thromboxane A2 by platelets may be accelerated in vivo in patients with NIDDM. The urinary 6-kPGF1α was not different between the NIDDM group and normal controls among the males, but was greater in the NIDDM group among the females. As MPV showed a positive correlation (r = 0.364, P< 0.05) with urinary excretion of 11 dTXB2, MPV may be related to platelet activity. These findings suggest that the platelets of patients with NIDDM may be in a hyperactive state. J Atheroscler Thromb, 1994; 1: 108112. © 1994, Japan Atherosclerosis Society. All rights reserved.