Association of platelet count and plateletcrit with nerve conduction function and peripheral neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Aims/Introduction Diabetes has been considered as a ‘pro‐thrombotic state’ with enhanced platelet reactivity. Abnormality in platelet aggregation has been found in patients with its most common chronic complication – diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential association of platelet indices with nerve conduction function and the presence of DPN in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Materials and Methods This study involved a total of 211 inpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 55 healthy individuals for whom nerve conduction studies were carried out. DPN was diagnosed according to the American Diabetes Association recommendation. Clinical data were retrospectively collected. Results Patients with diabetes in whom neuropathy developed had lower levels of platelet count (PLT) and plateletcrit (PCT) than healthy controls (P