Plasma beta-thromboglobulin in diabetes mellitus

Abstract

The plasma beta-thromboglobulin (βTG) content was measured in 56 diabetic patients with known complications of this disease, including neuropathy, retinopathy, and ischemie skin lesions. Although two patients were found to have elevated levels beyond the normal range, there was no significant difference between the diabetic group as a whole and the group of 35 controls. The significance of these findings with regard to the proposed contribution of small-vessel platelet sequestration in the pathogenesis of late complications of diabetes mellitus is discussed.