Platelet Activity Increases in Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy

Objective: The role of new inflammatory markers such as neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-lymphocyte ratio, mean platelet volume, and platelet distribution width in diabetic microvascular complications was investigated. Methods: A total of 266 (172 female, 94 male) individuals were divided into 5 groups: group 1, who have diabetes without any complications for at least 10 years; group 2, only diabetic nephropathy; group 3, only diabetic neuropathy; group 4, only diabetic retinopathy; and group 5, control group. Results: Glucose and HbA1c were higher in retinopathy, neuropa thy, and nephropathy groups than in the control group (P < .001). Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in the neuropathy group was higher in the retinopathy and uncomplicated diabetic groups (mean ± SD; 2.4 ± 2.9, 1.6 ± 0.5, 1.5 ± 0.5, P = .018, P = .001, respectively), and platelet-lymphocyte ratio was higher only in the retinopa thy group (mean ± SD; 133.8 ± 59, 105.5 ± 34, P = .001). In the retinopathy group, mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width were higher than the control group and the uncomplicated diabetic group (mean platelet volume mean ± SD; 10.6 ± 1.0, 10.0 ± 0.6, 9.7 ± 1.9, P = .009, P = .003, platelet distribution width mean ± SD; 13.0 ± 2.3, 11.4 ± 1.2, 11.7 ± 1.6, P < .001, P = .003, respec tively). Conclusions: Patients with diabetic neuropathy have sub clinical inflammation, and patients with retinopathy have platelet activation. However, further studies are needed to investigate the mechanism of this increased inflammation and platelet reactivity in the development of these complications.