BALANCE OF PROSTACYCLIN AND THROMBOXANE IN OFFSPRING OF PARENTS WITH PREMATURE CORONARY ARTERIAL-DISEASE

6-keto-prostaglandin F1a and thromboxane B2 were determined in order t o obtain more information about the prostacyclin synthesis and thrombo xane A2 release in 3- to 18-year-old healthy children and in offspring of parents who have had an acute myocardial infarction before the age of 45. The authors demonstrated a reduction of plasma prostacyclin sy nthesis in children with a positive family history of premature corona ry arterial disease. Thromboxane levels in the affected adolescent boy s were significantly lower compared with the controls. The ratio of th romboxane:prostacyclin in endangered children did not show a significa nt difference from that of healthy controls. These data indicate that prostaglandins are a definitive marker for identifying cardiovascular risk children. It must be supposed that in adolescence, only in boys, with a positive family history of premature coronary arterial disease, a compensatory mechanism exists to protect them from developing an im balance in the regulation of prostaglandins.