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Abstract
We investigated the association between low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides,
and platelet activation in 18 patients with hypertension age 41-64 years and 18 with
diabetes mellitus aged 43-70 years. Platelet P-selectin positivity and the microparticle
level (indicators of activation) were both significantly higher in the diabetics than
in healthy controls (P-selectin: 28.0% +/- 7.5% vs. 7.3% +/- 4.2%, P < 0.001; microparticles:
1900 +/- 966 vs. 526 +/- 158/10(4) platelets, P < 0.01). In contrast, there was no
significant increase of either parameter in the patients with hypertension. Plasma
microparticle levels were also significantly greater in the diabetics with high LDL
levels than in those with low LDL levels (2375 +/- 949 vs. 1519 +/- 796/10(4) platelets,
P < 0.05), and in those with high rather than low triglyceride levels (2188 +/- 845
vs. 1492 +/- 783/10(4) platelets, P < 0.05). However, platelet positivity for P-selectin
was not significantly different between these two subgroups. Microparticle and P-selectin
levels both showed no significant difference between the hypertensive patients with
high and low LDL or triglyceride levels. These results suggest that platelet-derived
microparticles may participate in the development or progression of atherosclerosis
in patients with diabetes mellitus.