Plasma β-thromboglobulin in Diabetes Mellitus in Relation to Vascular Complications, Metabolic Control and Plasma Lipids*

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The aim of this study is to elucidate whether or not plasma β-thromboglobulin (β-TG), an indicator of in vivo platelet activation and release reaction, is related to diabetic vascular complications, state of metabolic control and plasma lipids. β-TG was measured using Amersham RIA kit. Sixty-one diabetic patients were studied. Plasma β-TG levels were elevated in diabetics (86±8ng/ml). There was no significant correlation between plasma β-TG levels and the age, duration of diabetes, fasting plasma glucose levels, hemoglobin A₁, and plasma lipid levels. In addition, plasma β-TG levels did not differ among the different types of treatment or types of diabetes or sex.
No significant difference was noted in plasma β-TG levels between diabetics with and without retinopathy. The diabetics with nephropathy had higher levels of plasma β-TG than those without nephropathy. The diabetics with macroangiopathy showed a decreased tendency for plasma β-TG values as compared with those without macroangiopathy. However, these differences did not reach statistical significance.
It is concluded that diabetics had higher levels of plasma β-TG, suggesting abnormal platelet function, i. e. its hyperaggregability in diabetes, but that plasma β-TG levels are not related to diabetic vascular complications, metabolic control and plasma lipid levels. Further studies will be required to clarify the significance and cause of its higher levels in diabetes mellitus.