Megakaryocyte Ploidy and Platelet Changes in Human Diabetes and Atherosclerosis

Abstract Altered platelet morphology and function have been reported in patients with diabetes. They are likely to be associated with the pathological processes and increased risk of vascular disease seen in these patients. Mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet count, and megakaryocyte (MK) ploidy (DNA content) were measured in (1) nondiabetics with normal coronary arteries, (2) nondiabetics with coronary artery atherosclerosis, (3) diabetics without evidence of vascular complications, and (4) diabetics with vascular disease. The platelet count (±SD) was increased in all groups but only significantly in the diabetics with vascular disease (236±65 versus 250±54 versus 257±64 versus 295±90 [P≤.05]×109/L, for groups I, II, III, and IV, respectively). The MPV was significantly increased in patients with atherosclerosis (7.0±0.4 versus 8.0±1.2 [P≤.05] versus 7.2±0.9 versus 8.1±0.9 [P≤.05] fL). Geometric mean MK ploidy was significantly increased in all groups compared with controls (16±1.5 versus 18.7±1.8 [P≤.0...