Prostaglandins and Thromboxanes in Burn Injury in Man

Abstract

The main urine metabolite of prostaglandin F2α (5_α, 7α-dihydroxy-11-ketotetranor-prostane-1, 16-dioic acid, PGF-metabolite) was determined by mass spectrometry (MS) and radioimmunoassay (RIA) in burned patients treated under routine conditions. The amount of the PGF-metabolite as determined by MS was 130 and 67 μ/24 h (normal value 24 ± 17 μ/24 h) on days 3 and 5 respectively in one patient. In serial determinations using RIA the urine level of the PGF-metabolite was within normal values during the first days and rose to a broad peak 1–4 weeks after the injury. Thromboxane B₂ (TXB₂) was identified and quantitated in burn blister fluid. The amount of TXB₂ was 1.7 ng/ml.