The effect of metformin on mean platelet volume in dıabetıc patients

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Metformin, the most commonly used antidiabetic, also has an antiatherogenic effect. Mean platelet volume (MPV) is increased in patients with high thrombogenic activation and also at risk for atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of metformin on MPV values in newly diagnosed type II DM patients on metformin monotherapy. In this study, 60 newly diagnosed type II DM patients (45 females, 15 males), who had applied to the Kocaeli University School of Medicine Endocrinology outpatient clinic, and 47 healthy individuals (35 females, 12 males) were included. The two groups have similarity for age, sex and body mass index. The patients with additional disease, nephropathy, smoking and using drugs that may affect the MPV were excluded. At baseline and 6 months after metformin treatment, patient demographics and laboratory values were compared. MPV was higher among type II DM patients than the control group (p < 0.001). After 6 months of metformin treatment, MPV values were significantly decreased (p < 0.001). HbA1c and mean platelet mass were also significantly decreased (p = 0.022 and 0.001, respectively). There was no correlation between MPV and HbA1c values (r = -0.13, p = 0.926). Metformin, which has been shown to exhibit antiatherogenic effect through positive effects on cholesterol levels, inflammatory markers and vascular adhesion molecules, decreased MPV values that appear to play a crucial role at the beginning of atherosclerosis development. We conclude that our result may contribute to the explanation for antiatherogenic effect of metformin.

Mean platelet volume in gestational diabetes mellitus

“…[6] Metformin, which has been shown to exhibit antiatherogenic effect by decreasing cholesterol levels, inflammatory markers and vascular adhesion molecules, decreased MPV values. [11] Other studies showed higher MPV among type 2 DM patients who had microvascular complications (retinopathy or microalbuminuria). [5] The large platelets contain more dense granules, are more potent than the smaller platelets, and are hence more thrombogenic.…”

Is There a Relation Between Mean Platelet Volume and Inflammation Markers Either in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Retinopathy or Neuropathy?

“…79 It was also demonstrated that values of MPV were significantly higher in patients on oral hypoglycemic therapy than patients on insulin treatment. 80 Although insulin treatment was shown to decrease the activation and expression of cytokines, in a study neither insulin nor metformin was shown to reduce inflammatory marker levels such as hs-CRP and IL-6.…”

Platelets and diabetes: A complex association

“…Briefly, the most commonly used glucose-lowering drugs like metformin, sulphonylureas (e.g. glimepiride, gliclazide, gliquidone and glibenclamide) and insulin, have all been shown to exert beneficial effects on platelets [1,[7][8][9][10][11]. Among the relatively more recent drugs, there is evidence for glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, glitazones and other classes of drugs [10,12].…”