title: Essential fatty acids, prostaglandins, and respiratory distress syndrome of the newborn.
abstract: The lungs are a major metabolic site for the synthesis, release, and degradation of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins of the E and F series exert a potent physiological effect on the smooth muscle of blood vessels and the tracheobronchial tree; prostaglandin E dilates while prostaglandin F constricts. Thus, altered prostaglandin metabolism may contribute to the pathophysiology of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Twenty-one infants with RDS and ten age- and weight-matched controls were studied by analyzing their plasma for prostaglandins and their precursor essential fatty acids. The two groups showed no differences in the essential fatty acid prostaglandin precursors, dihomo-gamma-linolenic and arachidonic acids. During the acute phase of RDS, plasma levels of the primary prostaglandins E and F are significantly elevated compared with control values and the ratio of prostaglandin E to prostaglandin F significantly reduced. Prostaglandins E and F returned to control values on recovery from the acute stage of the disease. Two infants with persistent patent ductus arteriosus had significantly elevated prostglandin E values in their plasma compared with controls. The elevated levels of circulating plasma prostaglandins E and F and the reversal of their ratio during the acute phase of RDS may have adverse pulmonary and multisystem effects.
mesh_terms: D015126:8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000097:blood; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000097:blood; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D011458:Prostaglandins E / Q000097:blood; D011460:Prostaglandins F / Q000097:blood; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D010743:Phospholipids; D011453:Prostaglandins; D011458:Prostaglandins E; D011460:Prostaglandins F; D015126:8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid