Objective: Mean platelet volume (MPV) is a determinant of platelet function. Determining the MPV levels is very important for the diabetic patients who have the risk of developing vascular diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate any significant difference in the MPV levels of people who were diagnosed as diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance or normal by performing oral glucose tolerance test.

Materials and Methods: A total of 385 people, consisting of 267 female and 118 male that were recorded in laboratory information system, were included in this retrospective study. The patients were classified according to fasting plasma glucose and second hour plasma glucose levels of oral glucose tolerance test and grouped as; normal, impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes mellitus after a 75 gram oral glucose load. Biochemical tests of these individuals were analyzed by Olympus 2700 autoanalyzer and MPV levels were determined by Beckman-Coulter Gen S system. Parametric tests were used for statistical evaluation.

Results: MPV levels were not significantly different between the diabetic (n=44), impaired glucose tolerance (n=91) and normal (n=250) groups. Also, MPV levels of impaired fasting glucose group were similar with the normal group (p>0.05).

Conclusion: Contrary to the studies that have shown the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus have higher MPV levels, we have found no significant differences between type 2 diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, and normal groups. The reason of similarity between these groups were thought to be related to short diabetes duration since the diabetic subjects were newly diagnosed. New studies are needed to support the lower MPV levels in these group of patients.