[Plasma and urinary prostaglandins in Bartter's and pseudo-Bartter's syndrome (author's transl)]

Diagnostic value of plasma and urinary prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha measurements was compared in 5 patients with Bartter's syndrome and 5 patients with pseudo-Bartter's syndrome. Bartter's syndrome is characterised by constant simultaneous increase of plasma and urinary PGE2; this hypersecretion is insufficiently suppressed by indomethacin treatment. Pseudo-Bartter's syndrome is characterised by normal urinary PGE2 excretion which is considerably decreased by indomethacin treatment at the same dose. The measurement of plasma and urinary prostaglandins helps to distinguish the Bartter's syndrome from pseudo-Bartter's syndrome.