LASER HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY DETERMINATION OF PROSTAGLANDINS IN PLEURAL EFFUSIONS

We measured prostaglandins (PGs) in human pleural effusions of 43 pati ents with various diseases using microcolumn high performance liquid c hromatography with a He/Cd laser induced fluorescence detection system . PGD(2) was not detected in the transdate effusions. In contrast, PGD (2) was detected in pleural exudates (malignant effusions: 0.22 +/- 0. 07 nmol/ml, tuberculous effusions: 0.28 +/- 0.08 nmol/ml). PGE(2) and 6-keto-PGF(1 alpha) concentrations in malignant effusions (1.62 +/- 0. 17 nmol/ml, 14.40 +/- 1.33 nmol/ml, respectively) were significantly i ncreased compared with tuberculous effusions (0.98 +/- 0.13 nmol/ml, 1 0.36 +/- 0.92 nmol/ml) and transdates (0.60 +/- 0.06 nmol/ml, 6.91 +/- 0.61 nmol/ml). On the contrary, there was no significant difference i n PGF(2 alpha) concentrations between malignant effusions and tubercul ous effusions. From these results, not only PGE(2) but also PGD(2) and PGI(2) might be implicated in the pleural fluid accumulation.