[Prostaglandins in the pathogenesis of various systemic diseases of the connective tissue]

A study was made of the content of prostaglandins E, A, F2 alpha and malonic dialdehyde (MDA) in the blood plasma and urine of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis and healthy persons. The levels of plasma and urine prostaglandins and MDA were significantly elevated in systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis, and in systemic scleroderma they did not differ from those in normal. The ratio of pressor and depressor prostaglandins in systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis did not change, and in systemic scleroderma there was a strong shift to pressor prostaglandins. Change in the content and ratio of prostaglandins and MDA in systemic diseases of connective tissue was suggestive of differences of pathogenetic effects of these mediators in some diseases of this group.