Studies in the involvement of prostaglandins in uterine symptomatology and pathology

The concentrations of prostaglandin E2 and F2alpha were measured by radioimmunoassay in samples of endometrial tissue from 155 women. The results showed that the concentration of prostaglandins E2 (ng/100 mg of wet tissue; mean +/- SD) in tissue from apparently healthy women with regular menstrual cycles was 79-3 +/- 9-9 during the menstrual period. The level in the proliferative and early secretory phases fell to 11-8 +/- 4-0 and 13-3 +/- 8-3 respectively. During the late secretory phase there was a significant increase to 20-1 +/- 10-8. The corresponding values from patients with fibromyomata and without menorrhagia were similar. However, the concentration in tissue from patients with fibromyomata and menorrhagia was significantly higher (63-9 +/- 17-9) during the secretory phase of the uterine cycle. In addition, the amount was significantly higher in the groups with dysmenorrhoea (19-0 +/- 4-5 proliferative; 68-0 +/-18-15 secretory) and irregular uterine bleeding (78-3 +/- 59-0 proliferative; 87-4 +/- 64-9 secretory). The mean concentration was higher in cases of endometriosis, and significantly elevated in endometrial carcinoma. The results for prostaglandin F2alpha showed a similar pattern, but the changes were less marked in patients with irregular dysfunctional bleeding. The findings are discussed.