Increased granulocyte aggregation in vitro in diabetes mellitus

Having previously shown an increase in white blood cell (WBC) aggregationin groups known to have a high incidence of cardiovascular events, wecompared 28 patients with diabetes mellitus and no history or clinicalevidence of macrovascular disease with 28 age- and sex- matched normalcontrols. Patients and controls had blood taken in the morning and analysedfor WBC aggregation in vitro using a whole blood technique. WBC aggregationwas significantly higher in the diabetic group compared with the normalcontrols (mean +/- SD 31.10 +/- 10.26% vs. 25.7 +/- 9.38%; p < 0.04,Student t-test). WBC aggregation predates the appearance of clinicalsymptoms of macrovascular disease in diabetes.