INSENSITIVITY OF PLATELET-AGGREGATION TO INHIBITION BY PROSTAGLANDIN I-2 (PGI(2)) AND PROSTAGLANDIN E(1) (PGE(1)), AND REDUCED PLATELET CAMP ACCUMULATION IN RESPONSE TO PGE(1) IN INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETIC-PATIENTS

In insulin-dependent diabetics (IDDM) and peripheral occlusive arteria l disease (POAD), inhibition of platelet aggregation (PA) by PGI(2) an d PGE(1) was reduced (p < 0.02) compared with non-diabetics and POAD a s well as with healthy subjects at a similar extent of PA (in the 3 gr oups). c-AMP content in resting platelets of IDDM and chronic renal fa ilure was decreased (mean +/- SD in pmol/2.5 x 10(8) platelets): 5.3 /- 1.1 compared with the content in healthy subjects: 8.0 +/- 1.12 and P < 0.012. Moreover, c-AMP content in PGE(1)-stimulated platelets was also reduced in these patients. Our results indicate that diabetic pa tients are characteristically less sensitive to inhibition by the 2 pr ostanoids, presumably through attenuated activity of the c-AMP generat ing system.