[Prostaglandins and benign mastopathies (author's transl)]

During both phases of their menstrual cycle, women who suffer from benign mastopathies evidence hormonal deficiency, which is total although of variable magnitude, as shown by oestradiol (E2) and progesterone (p) plasma levels. by contrast, these women show a concomitant and large rise of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) plasma level. An oestrogen directed PGE2 synthesis by the mammary epithelium is likely to occur. The patients whose mammary thermography displays PG synthesis can be cooled by the administration of PG synthesis inhibitors. They show a steroid deficiency which is more or less pronounced without having any marked imbalance of the E2-P ratio. By contrast, patients who exhibit no thermographic response show a marked relative rise in oestrogen during both phases of the menstrual cycle. The significance of PG synthesis and relatively raised oestrogen levels will be discussed in relationship to the risk of breast cancer.