Plasma thromboxane B2 and 6-keto-prostaglandin-F1α in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Objective To investigate the changes of plasma thrombexane B2 (TXB2) and 6-keto-prostaglan-din-F1α (6-keto-PGF1α) in patients with type 2 diabetic mellitus and their roles in the pathogenesis of diabetic macroangiopathy. Methods Plasma levels of TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1α were measured with RIA in 60 cases of type 2 diabetic patients(43 patients with and 17 without diabetic macroangiopathy), with 31 cases of controls. Results Plasma levels of TXB2 in type 2 diabetic patients were significantly higher than those in controls. However, plasma levels of 6-keto-PGF1α in type 2 diabetic patients were significantly lower than those in controls. Changes of both indexes were more significant in type 2 diabetic patients with macroangiopathy than those without macroangiopathy. Plasma levels of TXB2 showed negative correlation with 6-keto-PGF 1α. Conclusion TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF 1 α may play important roles in the pathogenesis of diabetic macroangiopathy. Determination of TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1α levels in type 2 diabetic patients may be useful for early detection of diabetic macroangiopathy.