Analysis of urinary prostacyclin and thromboxane/prostacyclin ratio in patients with rheumatoid arthritis using gas chromatography/selected ion monitoring

We investigated production of prostacyclin and the urinary ratio of thrombo xane and prostacyclin inpatients with rheumatoid arthritis. The prostacycli n production level was assessed according to the level of urinary 2,3-dinor -6-ketoprostaglandin F-1 alpha measuring by gas chromatography/selected ion monitoring. Inpatients receiving medication, the prostacyclin level was lo wer and the thromboxane/prostacyclin ratio was greater compare with that of healthy volunteers. The prostacyclin level in patients without medication was approximately 4-fold higher than that of healthy volunteers and 8-fold higher than those of medicated groups. Although the ratio of the group with out medication was similar to that of healthy volunteers, the urinary level s of each prostanoid were higher than those of other groups. Then, the rati os of groups receiving steroids were higher than that of other groups owing to highTX level. The present findings demonstrated that endogenous prostac yclin and thromboxane production increased in patients without medication, and prostacyclin production decreased with medication. (C) 2001 Harcourt Pu blishers Ltd.