Increased decidual prostaglandin E concentration in human abortion

Prostaglandin E (PGE) concentration was measured in decidual tissue after spontaneous and missed abortion and compared with that obtained from induced abortion. Tissues were obtained by curettage from groups of 10 patients each and PGE was estimated by radioimmunoassay. After spontaneous and missed abortions decidual tissue contained significantly higher mean concentrations of PGE, (486.3 and 66.7 ng/g wet tissue respectively) than after induced abortion (18.6 ng PGE/g wet tissue). It is suggested that an increased rate of PGE biosynthesis or reduced breakdown, or both, may play a role in the mechanism of human abortion.