Plasma prostaglandin E2 and F2 alpha in preterm infants: association with respiratory distress syndrome and patent ductus arteriosus.

In order to determine if prostaglandin values correlate with gestational age, birth weight, postnatal age, or respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), we determined plasma prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by specific radioimmunoassay in 34 samples from 27 preterm infants. Neither prostaglandin correlated with gestational age or with birth weight. PGF2 alpha decreased (p less than 0.3) with postnatal age. Values for PGF2 alpha and PGE2 in each sample varied together (p less than .01) but only PGF2 alpha increased (p less than .09) in infants with RDS. The highest PGF2 alpha values occurred in infants with severe RDS, including four infants with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). In contrast, plasma PGE2 was not elevated in infants with RDS or PDA.