Variation of Platelet Indices among Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Attending Tertiary Care Hospital

摘要

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a pandemic health problem. It is considered as a prothrombotic state with enhanced platelet activity. The platelet activation may alter platelet morphology and function which may result in the development of microvascular and macrovascular complications of this metabolic disorder. Platelet Indices i.e., Mean Platelet volume (MPV), Platelet Distribution Width (PDW) and Platelet Large Cell Ratio (PLCR) are routinely available in almost all the laboratories but are underutilised.Aim: To evaluate abnormal platelet indices in diabetic patients and to study the correlation between platelet indices with diabetic complications and glycaemic control.Materials and Methods: The present prospective and cross/sectional study was conducted in the Department of Pathology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belgaum over a period of one year from January 2013 to December 2013 on 210 patients who were suffering from Type 2 DM and attended Outpatient Department (OPD). A total of 210 patients suffering from diabetes mellitus attending the OPD were included in this study. Platelet Indices were measured using automated haematology analyser. Statistical evaluation was performed using SPSS version 16.0.Results: Majority of the patients had higher PDW and PLCR (except MPV). A 74.7% (157 out of 210) patient was suffering from diabetic complications. 94 patients out of 157 were suffering from cardiovascular complications. Patients suffering from diabetic nephropathy had the highest value of platelet indices. When patients with diabetic complications were compared with patients without complications, we found that there was statistically significant difference between the groups with regard to the number of males and females affected, duration of diabetes, Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), lipid profile and the platelet indices (MPV, PDW and PLCR). On comparing platelet indices with glycaemic control, patients with bad glycaemic control had higher platelet indices than patients with glycaemic controlled diabetes and this was statistically significant. There was positive and statistically significant correlation between the platelet indices and duration of diabetes, FBS, HbA1c, lipid profile and diabetic complications and negative correlation between platelet indices and platelet count which was not statistically significant, in contrast negative correlation between platelet indices and HDL, was statistically significant.Conclusion: Platelet Indices is simple, easy method to evaluate the platelet hyperactivity in DM.