PROSTAGLANDIN E(2) AND PROSTAGLANDIN-F2-ALPHA BIOSYNTHESIS IN HUMAN GASTRIC-MUCOSA - EFFECT OF CHRONIC ALCOHOL MISUSE

Background and Aims-The results of experimental studies support the hy pothesis that decreased prostaglandin production might play a part in the gastric mucosal injury induced by alcohol. In this study, it was i nvestigated whether alcohol misuse impairs the synthesis of prostaglan din E(2) (PGE(2)) and prostaglandin F-2 alpha (PGF(2 alpha)) in gastri c mucosa. Patients-Fifty six alcoholic patients and 66 subjects withou t alcohol misuse were included in the study. Methods-Mucosal biopsy sp ecimens were obtained from the antrum and body of the stomach. Maximal synthesis rates of PGE(2) and PGF(2 alpha) were determined in the mic rosomal fraction of the biopsy specimens. Results-The rates of synthes is of both prostaglandins in biopsy specimens from the antrum were not significantly different from those obtained in the body. Synthesis of both prostaglandins was significantly reduced in alcoholic patients w ho abstained less than five days compared with the non-alcoholic group with normal mucosa (PGE(2)-40%, PGF(2 alpha)-42% respectively). In no n-alcoholic patients with severe gastritis PGE(2) synthesis was increa sed (+30%, p<0.05) and PGF(2 alpha) synthesis was decreased (-42.5%, p <0.025). In alcoholic patients with severe gastritis PGE(2) synthesis was depressed by almost 60% (p<0.001) compared with the nonalcoholic g roup with severe gastritis. Neither colonisation of Helicobacter pylor i nor smoking had a significant influence on the prostaglandin synthes is. Conclusions-Chronic alcohol misuse is associated with significantl y reduced capacity for prostaglandin synthesis in gastric mucosa and t his alcohol induced decrease in prostaglandin synthesis is modulated b y the presence and degree of gastritis.