Platelet aggregation and fatty acid composition of platelets in type 1 diabetes mellitus.

A raised content of arachidonic acid in platelets from diabetic patients with retinopathy was found without differences in platelet aggregation: platelet aggregability was not related to platelet fatty acid composition. In diabetes, platelet aggregation was inversely correlated to non-esterified fatty acids in plasma and may suggest an inhibiting effect. Mean platelet volume was raised in the diabetic patients, but without hyperaggregability. The findings do not exclude a relationship between platelet fatty acids and platelet aggregability, but suggest that variations in levels of non-esterified fatty acids in plasma might interfere with platelet aggregation.