[Differences in platelet aggregation in various microangiopathic complications of diabetes mellitus].

In vitro platelet aggregometry with epinephrine, adenosine-diphosphate, collagen and arachidonic acid was performed in 201 patients with diabetes, and in 106 healthy subjects. Those patients who were free of nephropathy showed hyperaggregability to collagen and arachidonic acid, and also to epinephrine and adenosine diphosphate, when neuropathy occurred. Patients with nephropathy, both with and without azotaemia, had diminished platelet responses to each of the four aggregating agents as compared to age- and sex-matched controls. Aggregability was not dependent on type of diabetes. It is concluded that diabetic nephropathy is characterized by decreased in vitro reactivity of platelets. Further researches are necessary to explain in vitro hypoaggregability besides the numerous evidence of in vivo hyperfunction of platelets in diabetes.