Leukotriene B4 and 20-OH-LTB4 in purulent peritoneal exudates demonstrated by GC-MS

Inflammatory peritoneal exudates from 11 patients with purulent peritonitis or non-perforative appendicitis were analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for their content of 5S, 12R-dihydroxy-6,14-cis-8,10-trans-eicosatetraenoic acid (LTB4) and its omega-oxidized catabolite, 5S,12R,20-trihydroxy-6,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (20-OH-LTB4). Eleven samples of peritoneal exudates were examined. LTB4 and 20-OH-LTB4 were demonstrated only in the samples from patients with purulent peritonitis. LTB4 was detected in 4 samples, and 20-OH-LTB4 was detected in 6 samples by GC-MS with selected ion monitoring. In addition, a nearly full spectrum corresponding to that of synthetic 20-OH-LTB4 was obtained with 3 samples. Neither LTB4 nor 20-OH-LTB4 were detected in samples from patients with non-perforative appendicitis. LTB4 or 20-OH-LTB4 may be related to the pathophysiological mechanism of purulent inflammations.