Platelet activation in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance

Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), a prediabetic state, is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Mean platelet volume (MPV), a determinant of platelet activation, is a newly emerging risk factor for atherothrombosis. This study was designed to answer the following questions: (i) Do MPV levels change in IGT? (ii) Is there any relation between MPV levels and 2 h plasma glucose levels after 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. We selected 48 subjects with IGT, and 48 healthy subjects with normal glucose tolerance matched for age, gender, and body mass index. MPV was significantly higher in IGT group than in control group (9.06 +/- 1.5 fl vs. 8.28 +/- 0.8 fl, p = 0.002). Also, MPV was positively correlated with 2 h plasma glucose concentration in IGT group (r = 0.39, p = 0.006). In conclusion, our results suggest that subjects with IGT tend to have increased platelet activation. Increased platelet activity could contribute to increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease in IGT.