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Abnormal Platelet Aggregation in Chronic Symptomatic Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
Author(s) -
Jennings P. E.,
Dallinger K. J. C.,
Nightingale S.,
Barnett A. H.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
diabetic medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.474
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1464-5491
pISSN - 0742-3071
DOI - 10.1111/j.1464-5491.1986.tb00752.x
Subject(s) - medicine , retinopathy , microangiopathy , nephropathy , peripheral neuropathy , diabetes mellitus , diabetic neuropathy , platelet aggregation , diabetic retinopathy , platelet , gastroenterology , endocrinology
Both diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy result from microangiopathic processes although there is controversy as to whether this is true for neuropathy. Increased platelet aggregation has been reported in diabetics with nephropathy and retinopathy. The presence of increased platelet aggregation in diabetics with neuropathy could be due to the other coincident microvascular complications. We have, therefore, studied in vitro platelet aggregation in 10 diabetics with chronic symptomatic neuropathy but no other complications, 10 with neuropathy and severe retinopathy, 17 with retinopathy alone, and 23 diabetics with no complications. Increased platelet aggregation to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and adrenaline was seen in diabetics with neuropathy alone (peak responses 85.0 ± 5.5% and 82.9 ± 6.2%, respectively) when compared with uncomplicated diabetics (peak response 74.9 ± 10.1%, p < 0.005, and 74.3 ± 12.5%, p < 0.01, respectively). The increased platelet aggregation in the patients with neuropathy alone was similar to that found in the diabetics with severe retinopathy. We conclude that increased platelet aggregation is associated with established microangiopathy and is also present in otherwise uncomplicated patients with neuropathy, and this may have pathogenic and therapeutic implications.