Increased prostaglandin synthesis in childhood diabetes mellitus.

Prostaglandins are synthesized from the fatty acids, linoleic and arachidonic acids, and are associated with increased platelet aggregation as has been found in blood from patients with diabetes mellitus. In the present study blood was obtained from 40 children with diabetes and from 20 control children for measurements of fatty acid and PGE1, PGE2, and PGF2alpha levels. The production of PGE2 and PGF2alpha was significantly elevated in blood from the children with diabetes at all times measured. The mean quantitative plasma linoleic acid levels were also higher in the patients. The increased PG synthesis may be related to the vascular problems that occur in patients with diabetes.