ASPECTS ON MEASUREMENTS OF PROSTAGLANDINS AND THROMBOXANES

The prostaglandins (PGs) and thromboxanes (TXs) belong to a rapidly growing family of compounds which are all oxygenated metabolites of certain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Different assay methods have been used in the past: biological, physical and chemical methods. Today three different types of methods with high sensitivity have gained wide spread use: bioassay, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and radioimmunoassay. The principles as well as some comments of these three methods are given. Blood plasma or serum and urine are the most commonly studied body fluids. For each of these biological materials advantages and disadvantages are discussed. In addition a number of other biological materials can offer advantages in special clinical situations. Furthermore the utmost importance for the selection of the proper compound for monotoring is discussed. Finally a serious problem in the clinical situation is the influence of drugs on the PG or TX biosynthesis and/or metabolism. Even in healthy persons, the normal levels of PGs seem to vary within very wide limits and may be influenced by many factors. Hindriks, Groningen, Holland.