[Thromboxane and prostacyclin in endotoxin-induced lung injury]

Hypotension, respiratory failure and ARDS-like pulmonary morphological changes were induced by given continuous intravenous infusion of E. coli endotoxin (1-1.5 micrograms.kg/h) in goats. During endotoxin infusion, plasma TXB2 level rose markedly with peak at 0.5 h and then lowered, while 6-keto-PGF1 alpha elevated progressively with its highest level before death, and correlated with blood pressure and survival times negatively. So we suggested that prostacyclin may be one of the factors responsible for hypotension and death in late period of endotoxin induced shock and lung injury.