To syudy the platelet factor 4 (PF-4) concentrations after intravenous injection of heparin, blood samples from 6 normals and 50 patients with diabetes mellitus were collected.
The diabetics were divided into four groups according to the complication of retinopathy and condition of control.
The plasma level of PF-4 were measured before and 15, 30 and 60 minutes after heparin injection.
The results showed that the plasma level of PF-4 in diabetic groups were slightly higher than the normal controles, but no statistical differences.
The PF-4 level in plasma at 15 minutes after heparin injection, elevated to the maximun in normal and in all diabetic groups.
The elevation of PF-4 after heparin injection may suggested that platelets in complicated diabetics will be easily activated by heparin. And these increased platelet activation may contribute the aggravation of diabetic retinopathy.
The diabeics without complication and good control group showed to depress in comparison with other groups.
The platelet aggrgation was increased according to the aggravation of complication but in normals and diabetics without complication and good control group did not increased the platelet aggregation. So these differences may be effected by the platelet numbers that in normals are higher than diabetics or may suggest another reason, perhaps the endotherial surface.
