Impaired renal prostaglandin E2 biosynthesis in human hypertensive states

Urinary Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a known indicator of renal production, was measured by specific radioimmunoassay in 111 normal volunteers, 85 patients with essential hypertension, 6 with renovascular hypertension, and 23 patients with primary aldosteronism. Women excreted less PGE2 than men in both normotensive and hypertensive groups. When compared to normals, essential hypertensives demonstrated significantly lower PGE2 levels, with one third excreting less than 100 ng/24 hr, values usually seen only in subjects receiving the prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor, indomethacin. Normal PGE2 was seen in patients with renovascular hypertension, and levels were uninfluenced by treatment with the converting enzyme inhibitor SQ14225, Despite normalization of blood pressure and increased plasma renin activity. Normal PGE2 was also encountered in primary aldosteronism. These data indicate that impaired renal PGE2 biosynthesis is specific for human essential hypertension, and is not secondary to the elevated blood pressure. Although PGE2 excretion tends to be lower in low-renin hypertension, a constant relationship between PGE2 and renin is not always apparent.