Enhanced synthesis of cysteinyl leukotrienes in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
Endogenous synthesis of cysteinyl leukotrienes in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) was investigated.


METHODS
Cysteinyl leukotriene synthesis was assessed by measuring the excretion of leukotriene E4 (LTE4) in urine by radioimmunoassay. The identity of urinary LTE4 was investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and 2,3-dinor-thromboxane B2 was measured with GC-MS.


RESULTS
Excretion of LTE4 into urine was significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced in children with JRA compared with that in healthy children (n = 10). Aspirin, in a dosage of 2.5 gm/day, had no effect on urinary LTE4 levels, but it reduced urinary 2,3-dinorthromboxane B2 levels by more than 85% in healthy adults. There was a positive correlation between LTE4 excretion and the number of affected joints.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates a markedly enhanced cysteinyl leukotriene synthesis and a positive correlation between LTE4 excretion and the number of affected joints in children with JRA.
Fauler
J
J
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hannover Medical School, Germany.
Thon
A
A
Tsikas
D
D
von der Hardt
H
H
Frölich
J C
JC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002648:Child; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D017997:Leukotriene C4 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D017998:Leukotriene D4 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D017999:Leukotriene E4 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000652:urine; D013929:Thromboxane B2 / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000652:urine
D017997:Leukotriene C4; D013929:Thromboxane B2; C028965:2,3-dinor-thromboxane B2; D017998:Leukotriene D4; D017999:Leukotriene E4; D001241:Aspirin