Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum: Platelet survival and response to platelet inhibitors

Results of an open trial of platelet inhibitor treatment for necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum suggest the possible importance of abnormal platelet function in this disease. In ten female patients with necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum (six who were diabetic and four who were not) platelet survival times were measured before and after treatment with aspirin and dipyridamole. Pretreatment platelet survival time was considerably shortened in 50 percent of the diabetic and nondiabetic patients. Platelet-inhibitor treatment prolonged platelet survival time toward normal in most of these patients. The clinical response to treatment varied from healing to no noticeable effect.