Metabolic syndrome and venous thrombosis: potential role of microparticles.

We read with caution the paper of C. Ay at al about venous thromboembolism as a manifestation of the metabolic syndrome. It is a very interesting original work. However, to our knowledge, the authors miss to discuss the potential role of circulating procoagulant microparticles in the physiology of venous thrombosis. In fact, metabolic syndrome is a cluster of several atherosclerotic risk factors that includes commonly type 2 mellitus diabetes and obesity. Circulating procoagulant microparticles have been described in various clinical situations associated with thrombosis and in diabetic patients. In obese patients, we have documented an increase in circulating microparticles levels that could account for the increased risk of thrombotic complications in obesity. Mean procoagulant microparticles levels are markedly higher in obese patients (n=48) compared to controls (10.6±0.5 vs 3.2±0.3 nMPSeq, p<0.001). In the obese group, there was a negative correlation between microparticles and BMI (r=-0.265, p<0.05) but no relationship could be established between microparticles concentrations and markers of insulin resistance.