Plasma fibronectin and platelet aggregation in diabetes mellitus.

Plasma fibronectin (FN) is a high-molecular weight glycoprotein produced by endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and other mesenchymal cells. Plasma FN levels were measured in non-insulin-dependent diabetics (NIDDM) (n = 42) and compared with age-matched control subjects (n = 20). Plasma FN levels were significantly higher in the NIDDM patients (44.2 +/- 2.2 mg/dl, mean +/- SE) than in the control subjects (31.2 +/- 2.2 mg/dl). In addition, the rate of platelet aggregation was studied in 23 of the 42 NIDDM patients. Interestingly, the plasma FN levels were significantly elevated, particularly in diabetic patients with enhanced platelet aggregation. It is suggested that elevated plasma FN may be closely related to the abnormality of platelet function in diabetics, which leads to diabetic vascular lesions.