Platetet Functions,fibrinogen Levels And Vascular Disease In Diabetics At Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH)

Abstract

Fifty diabetic patients (32 males: 18 females), mean age 53.7 years, attending the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) , Diabetic clinicand 29 controls (19 males : 10 females) , mean age 48 years, were the subjects of the study. Platelet count, platelet adhesiveness , platelet aggregability and fibrinogen levels were compared between the two groups. It was found that the diabetic patients had a normal platelet count, the platelet adhesiveness was significantly decreased (P <:. O.05) while platelet aggregability was significantly increased (P<0.001) as were the fibrinogen Ievels (P<0.0001.) These functions were not influenced by sex in either group, There was no correlation between t.he duration of diabetes nor the presence of diabetic complications and the above parameters. Diabetic subjects were screened for diabetic retinopathy , nephropathy (persistent proteinuria >=500mg%) and neuropathy. 44% had retinopathy, 18%had nephropathy and 64% had neuropathy (peripheral plus autonomic). These figures compared well with other findings from the Caucasion diabetic population, but nephropathy was Lower than previously reported from Kenya, 14%had no diabetic complications detected. The decreased platelet adhesiveness demonstrated in this study is the first such described in diabetics and is different from previous 'findings in Caucasians , Von Willibrand factor was not assessed.