Thromb Haemost 1986; 56(02): 229-231
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1661646
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart

Urinary Beta-Thromboglobulin Correlates with Impairment of Renal Function in Patients with Diabetic Nephropathy

A H Hopper
The University Department of Medicine, The General Infirmary, Leeds, UK
,
H Tindall
The University Department of Medicine, The General Infirmary, Leeds, UK
,
J A Davies
The University Department of Medicine, The General Infirmary, Leeds, UK
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 13 August 1985

Accepted after revision 28 July 1986

Publication Date:
20 July 2018 (online)

Summary

TBeta-thromboglobulin (βTG) is a platelet-specific protein and since its concentration in plasma rises when platelets are activated, it has been used as an indicator of platelet involvement in vascular disease. Since platelets might be involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic microvascular disease we measured urinary βTG in 20 insulin-dependent diabetics with nephropathy and compared the results with those from 20 normal subjects. Measurement of βTG in urine was undertaken to avoid errors induced by blood sampling and to gain information over a prolonged period using a single assay. Measurements were made of βTG, β2-microglobulin and total protein in urine collected for 24 h and creatinine and β2 microglobulin in plasma. Survival of indium-111-labelled platelets was measured in nine patients. Urinary PTG was significantly (p <0.02) increased in the 20 patients compared with 20 normal volunteers (median value 1.3 vs 0.8 μg/24 h). There was a strong correlation between urinary βTG excretion and plasma creatinine concentration (r = 0.8, p <0.0001) and plasma β2-microglobulin concentration (r = 0.9, p <0.0001). Urinary βTG concentration did not correlate with platelet survival. The results indicate that although urinary βTG is significantly increased in patients with diabetic nephropathy its concentration in urine correlates with indicators of glomerular filtration rather than with a test of platelet activation.

 
  • References

  • 1 Ludlam CA, Cash JD. Studies on the liberation of beta-thrombo-globulin from human platelets in vitro. Br J Haem 1976; 33: 239-247
  • 2 Ludlam CA, Anderton JL. Platelet β-thromboglobulin. In: Platelet Function Testing Day HJ, Holmsen H, Zucker MB. (eds) DHEW Publication No. (NIH) 78-1087, U.S Government Printing Office; Washington: 267-289
  • 3 Doyle DJ, Chesterman CN, Cade JF, McGready JR, Rennie GC, Morgan FJ. Plasma concentrations of platelet-specific proteins correlated with platelet survival. Blood 1980; 55: 82-84
  • 4 Preston FE, Ward JD, Marcola BH, Porter NR, Timperley WR, O’Malley BC. Elevated p-thromboglobulin levels and circulating platelet aggregates in diabetic microangiopathy. Lancet 1978; 1: 238-240
  • 5 Elving LD, Casparie AF, Miedema K, Russchen CJ. Plasma beta-thromboglobulin in diabetics with and without microangiopathic complications. Diabetologia 1981; 21: 161-162
  • 6 Colwell JA, Winocour PD, Halushka PV. Do platelets have anything to do with diabetic microvascular disease. Diabetes 1983; 32 Suppl (Suppl. 02) 14-19
  • 7 Hopper AH, Tindall H, Barker MJ, Spencer AA, Davies JA. Renal imaging and platelet survival with indium-labelled platelets in patients with diabetic nephropathy. Nuclear Medicine Communications 1986; 7: 349-354
  • 8 Hawker RJ, Hawker LM, Wilkinson AR. Indium (111In)-labelled platelets: Optimal method. Clin Sci 1980; 58: 243-248
  • 9 Heaton WA, Davis HH, Welche MJ, Mathias CJ, Joist JH, Sherman LA, Siegel BA. Indium-111, a new radionuclide label for studying human platelet kinetics. Br J Haematol 1979; 42: 613-622
  • 10 Viberti GC, Keen H, Mackintosh D. Beta2-microglobulinaemia: a sensitive index of diminishing renal function in diabetics. Br Med J 1981; 282: 95-98
  • 11 van Oost BA, Veldhuyzen B, Timmermans AP M, Sixma JJ. Increased urinary β-thromboglobulin excretion in diabetes assayed with a modified RIA kit-technique. Thromb Haemostas 1983; 49: 18-20
  • 12 Deppermann D, Andrassy K, Seelig H, Ritz E, Post D. Beta-thromboglobulin is elevated in renal failure without thrombosis. Thromb Res 1980; 17: 63-69
  • 13 Osterby R, Gotzsche O, Gundersen HJ, Hirose K, Lundbaek K, Seyer-Hansen K. Progression of glomerular structural kidney alterations in diabetic rat and man. Acta Endocrinol 1981; (Suppl. 97) Suppl 242: 63-64
  • 14 Viberti GC, Keen H, Pickup JC, Bilous RW. Proteinuria and diabetic control in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Acta Endocrinol 1981; (Suppl. 97) Suppl 242: 59-60
  • 15 Dawes J, Smith RC, Pepper DS. The release, distribution and clearance of human beta-thromboglobulin and platelet factor 4. Thromb Res 1978; 12: 851-861
  • 16 Mogensen CE, Christensen CK, Vittinghus E. The stages of diabetic renal disease with emphasis on the stage of incipient diabetic nephropathy. Diabetes 1983; (Suppl. 32) Suppl 22: 64-78