Platelets and Diabetes Mellitus

To the Editor: Drs. Mustard and Packham (Sept. 6 issue) provide a balanced and comprehensive review of the role of platelets in the pathogenesis of diabetic vascular complications.¹ However, a few additional comments may also be relevant. We have recently shown that platelets from insulin-dependent diabetic patients produced less prostaglandin E₁ (an inhibitor of platelet aggregation) than control platelets, even after administration of dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DHLA, the precursor of prostaglandin E₁) supplements.² Furthermore, impaired synthesis of prostaglandin E₁ was accompanied by a lack of inhibition of platelet aggregation after DHLA supplementation.² In contrast, control subjects had.