Inhibition of platelet GPIIb–IIIa and P-selectin expression by aspirin is impaired by stress hyperglycemia

Abstract Increased aspirin resistance may contribute to the increase in thrombotic events observed in patients with type 2 diabetes. In this study, we examined if acute exposure to increased plasma glucose impaired the inhibitory effects of aspirin on platelet activation. Whole-blood samples were incubated with 100 (euglycemia), 200, 300, and 600 mg/dl glucose followed by incubation with aspirin [acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)]. Using flow cytometry, GPIIb–IIIa and P-selectin were analyzed in unstimulated and arachidonic acid (AA)-stimulated platelets. In euglycemic blood, AA caused a significant increase in platelet GPIIb–IIIa expression [unstimulated: 59.5±8.2 total fluorescence intensity (TFI), AA stimulated: 319.6±42.7 TFI, P =.002] and P-selectin (4.4±0.7 and 179.5±38.5 TFI, P