Raised platelet levels in diabetes mellitus complicated with nephropathy

Abstract. Sterner G, Carlson J, Ekberg G (Malmo University Hospital, Malmo, Sweden). Raised platelet levels in diabetes mellitus complicated with nephropathy. J Intern Med 1998; 244: 437–41. Objectives To study if elevated platelet levels are found in early and late diabetic nephropathy. Design A retrospective study was performed of platelet count in different subgroups of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, including patients with long and short duration of diabetes and with early signs of nephropathy. Patients with severe renal failure subjected to renal transplantation were also included. Results The results suggest that raised platelet levels were associated with early signs of diabetic nephropathy and with female gender. Amongst diabetics progressing to uraemia leading to renal transplant, the platelet level was 50% higher than in non-diabetic uraemic patients. Conclusion It is concluded that raised platelet levels are a common finding in patients with diabetes mellitus complicated by nephropathy.