Serum creatinine, immunoreactive serum and urine β₂-microglobulin, plasma and urine thromboglobulin, plasma thromboxane-B₂ levels and daily protein excretion were determined in 61 insulin-treated diabetic patients, comparing the different patient groups (complication free, nephropathy without and with azotaemia) with control subjects. In the groups of diabetic patients, plasma and urine β-thromboglobulin (BTG) and plasma thromboxane-B₂ levels were higher than in the controls. There was a significant positive correlation between urine BTG and β₂-microglobulin in the group without complication, and between the plasma BTG and β₂-microglobulin, and plasma BTG and thromboxane levels in the diabetic group with azotaemia. In contrast to some previous assumptions, the increased level of plasma BTG reflects a real platelet hyperactivation in patients with diabetic nephropathy. At the same time, urine BTG also increases. Determination of urine BTG is more simple with less possibility of methodological error.

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