Increased Activity of “Anti-Willebrand Factor” in Diabetic Plasma

Abstract

SummaryIn a group of 25 patients with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus a marked increase in the ADP-induced platelet adhesiveness was demonstrated. This phenomenon was due to a plasmatic factor. In vitro-plasma from these patients restored the decreased ADP-induced platelet adhesiveness in von Willebrand’s disease.The factor was also effective in vivo, since transfusion of 450 ml diabetic plasma to a patient with von Willebrand’s disease normalized the decreased platelet adhesiveness and shortened the prolonged bleeding time. The role of this factor in the ADP platelet reaction as a cofactor together with calcium is stressed.

Platelet adhesiveness in diabetes mellitus

“…and adhesion to glass. This finding is in agreement with the work of Bridges et al (1965) but differs from the observations of Odegaard et al (1964) who found no increased adhesion of platelets using whole blood from diabetics. In our experiments the contact with glass surfaces was considerably longer than in the experiments by Odegaard and his colleagues, and this may account for the different findings.…”

“…Bridges, Dalby, Millar, and Weaver (1965) in a study of 22 diabetics found a significant increase in platelet adhesiveness to glass and also increased adhesiveness after administration of glucose in both healthy and diabetic persons. Odegaard, SkAlhegg, and Hellem (1964) were unable to show any increase in adhesiveness in 25 diabetic patients when passing whole blood through a column of glass beads, but found a marked increase in platelet adhesiveness in their diabetic subjects by adenosine diphosphate (A.D.P. )-induced adhesiveness in citrated platelet-rich plasma.…”

Availability of endothelial von Willebrand factor and platelet function in diabetic patients infused with a vasopressin analogue

“…This observation also suggests that diabetic patients pre-treated with DDAVP may be more suitable than normal subjects as donors of vWF/VIII-RAG-enriched plasma derivatives. In the past, plasma from diabetic patients had been reported to correct some platelet abnormalities of von Willebrand's disease more effectively than normal plasma [23], possibly due to its higher content of vWF/VIII-RAG.…”

The Effect of pH on Human Platelet Aggregation Induced by Epinephrine and ADP

“…The results obtained with ADP indicate that aggregation produced by this agent is not very pH dependent, but disaggregation is enhanced by hypercapnic acidosis and inhibited by hypocapnic alkalosis. Whether this effect is due to changes in the platelet membrane or in the rapidity of ADP catabolism in plasma is not known ( 2 ) .…”