Some platelet functions in patients with diabetes mellitus and hepatosplenic bilharziasis

ABSTRACT

Our aim was to study platelet count, adhesiveness and aggregation in patients with hepatosplenic bilharziasis and diabetes mellitus. Our material comprised 10 non-ascitic patients with hepatosplenic bilharziasis, 7 uncomplicated diabetes mellitus and 8 patients with hepatosplenic bilharziasis and diabetes mellitus. 5 apparently normal subjects were taken as a control group. All groups were subjected to through history taking, clinical examination, urine and stool analysis blood picture, bleeding and coagulation times, serum creatinine, serum bilirubin, serum glutamic pyruvic tranaminase, fasting blood sugar; platelet count, adhesiveness and aggregation. Platelet count, adhesiveness and aggregation were decreased in patients with hepatosplenic bilharziasis, increased in patients with diabetes mellitus while they were non significantly, changed in patients with hepatosplenic bilharziasis plus diabetes mellitus. So, while diabetic patients should receive antiplatelet drugs like aspirin and dipyridamole; such drugs are contraindicated in patients with hapatosplenic bilharziasis for fear of bleeding and they are not recommended in cases with combined diabetes mellitus and hepatosplenic bilharziasis