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.
Citation
Master of medicine,University of Nairobi,1982.Publisher
University of Nairobi medicine