Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a global health problem with increased risk of vascular disease. Platelets may contribute to the development of vascular complications in subjects with diabetes. Larger platelets are more reactive than smaller ones; therefore, mean platelet volume (MPV) can be used as a marker for platelet activity.
Aim and Objectives: To compare the platelet parameters between diabetics and non-diabetics and to determine the effect of glycemic control and duration of diabetes on platelet parameters.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 100 Type-2 diabetic patients attending the Diabetology Outpatient Department of SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre aged between 30 and 60 years and 100 age-matched non-diabetic subjects as controls. Subjects with acute illness, those on antiplatelet medications and smokers were excluded. After history taking and clinical examination, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels, platelet parameters such as platelet count, platelet distribution width (PDW), MPV, platelet-large cell ratio, and plateletcrit were determined.
Results: MPV was significantly increased among diabetics when compared to non-diabetics. MPV and PDW showed a significant increase in diabetics with HbA1c >7%, and MPV was increased in diabetics with >10 years duration of diabetes.
Conclusion: MPV was found to be higher in subjects with Type-2 diabetes and significantly increased in diabetics with poor glycemic control and having a longer duration of diabetes. MPV can be used as a prognostic marker of vascular complications in patients with DM.
Key words: Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus; Mean Platelet Volume; Glycosylated Hemoglobin
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