RELATION WITH MEAN PLATELET VOLUME AND DIABETIC FOOT ULCERS

ALI ERDAL GUNES¹, MEHMET ALI EREN², EMEL YIGIT KARAKAS³, MEHMET DEMIR³, HUSEYIN KARA ASLAN², TEVFIK SABUNCU²

¹Harran University School of Medicine, Underwater and Hyperbaric Medicine Department, Sanliurfa, Turkey - ²Harran University School of Medicine, Endocrinology Department, Sanliurfa, Turkey - ³Harran University School of Medicine, Internal Medicine Department, Sanliurfa, Turkey

Aims: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a global health problem with multiple and major complication. Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is one of those that 15% of diabetic patients experience with DFU during their lifetime. Mean platelet volume (MPV) is a marker of platelet activation and function. It means that increase of MPV release of highly reactive platelets from stores and related with throm- botic disease and atherosclerosis. The aim of this study is corresponding elevated MPV on lead to the ulcers.

Methods: We included consecutive 28 patients with Type 2 diabetes and non-gangrenous DFU and matched 28 patients with Type 2 diabetes and without foot ulcers as well as 28 healthy volunteers for age and sex. Diagnostic criteria for diabetic foot ulcers were the presence of systemic signs of infection, purulent wound secretion or at least two local findings of inflammation (e.g., red- ness, warmth, induration, pain or tenderness).

Results: Hemoglobin level of DFU group was lower than healthy control group (p=0.001). MPV levels were higher in DFU group when compared to diabetic or healthy control groups (p=0.03 and p<0.001, respectively). MPV was higher in diabetic group with DFU when compared to both diabetic and healthy control groups.

Discussion: The atherosclerotic process and disorders of vascular circulation in the course of DFU may explain the high MPV in patients with DFU.

Conclusions: All of these underlying pathogenic disorders may influence the volume of platelets or high MPV -as a marker of more thrombogenic and active platelets- may contribute the development of DFU.