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Pulmonary hypertensive response to foreign body microemboli
H W Farber1, R P Fairman, S Rounds
1Pulmonary Centre, Boston University School of Medicine, Massachusetts 02118.
Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes, and Essential Fatty Acids
|February 1, 1990
Summary
Intravenous drug abuse can cause pulmonary hypertension. This study found that lipoxygenase inhibitors, not cyclooxygenase inhibitors, blocked pulmonary hypertension caused by pentazocine injection in dogs.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Toxicology
Background:
- Chronic intravenous drug abuse is linked to pulmonary hypertension and foreign body granulomas.
- Previous research identified transient pulmonary hypertension and edema after injecting crushed pentazocine tablets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of vasoactive substances in pentazocine-induced transient pulmonary hypertension.
- To determine if cyclooxygenase or lipoxygenase metabolites mediate this hypertensive response.
Main Methods:
- Dogs received crushed pentazocine intravenously.
- Pulmonary hemodynamics and arachidonic acid metabolites were measured.
- Inhibitors of cyclooxygenase (indomethacin), lipoxygenase (DEC), and a leukotriene receptor antagonist (FPL 55712) were administered.
Main Results:
- Pentazocine injection caused significant pulmonary hypertension and increased levels of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and thromboxane B2.
- Indomethacin blocked metabolite increases but not hypertension.
- Diethylcarbamazine (DEC) blocked hypertension without affecting metabolite levels.
Conclusions:
- Pentazocine-induced pulmonary hypertension is not mediated by cyclooxygenase products.
- The hypertension may involve lipoxygenase products other than leukotriene C4/D4.