High heparin released platelet factor 4 in uncomplicated type 1 diabetes mellitus

The role of platelet activation in diabetic microangio-pathy is still controversial. We evaluated the degree of platelet activation in relation to vessel wall damage in three selected, well matched groups of subjects (10 healthy controls; 20 insulin dependent diabetic patients, 10 without microangiopathy and 10 with microangiopathy). We measured βTG and PF4 plasma levels before and 5, 15 and 90 min after a heparin bolus i.v. (5000 U).

βTG basal levels were increased only in diabetic patients with microangiopathy. Diabetic patients without microangiopathy showed significantly higher levels of heparin released-PF4 (HR-PF4) in comparison with healthy controls. High levels of HR-PF4 seen to be an early marker of in vivo increased platelet activation in uncomplicated diabetes mellitus.