PROSTAGLANDIN CYCLOOXYGENASE PRODUCTS BUT NOT THROMBOXANE A(2) ARE INVOLVED IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF ERYTHROMELALGIA IN THROMBOCYTHEMIA

FLUID of artificial blisters from erythromelalgic skin areas in primary thrombocythaemia contained a high amount of prostaglandin-E-like activity. Dazoxiben did not alleviate the erythromelalgia in patients with primary thrombocythaemia despite complete inhibition of platelet malondialdehyde and thromboxane B-2 synthesis and no inhibition of prostaglandin-E-like material. During a 10-day dazoxiben treatment period, persistent erythromelalgia was associated with a significant shortened mean platelet life span of 3.2 days. During subsequent treatment with low dose acetylsalicylic acid daily complete relief of erythromelalgia was associated with inhibition of platelet prostaglandin endoperoxide production and correction of platelet mean life span to normal, 7.9 days. These observations indicate that prostaglandin E(2), or another prostaglandin endoperoxide metabolite, is involved in the pathogenesis of erythromelalgia. The presented study does not give one single clue as to the origin (platelet, vessel wall or other) of the prostanoid, but very likely originates from platelets because a very low dose of acetylsalicylic acid (250 to 500 mg every other day), which irreversibly inhibits platelet cyclooxygenase, is highly effective in the prevention of erythromelalgia in thrombocythaemia.