Laser high performance liquid chromatography determination of prostaglandins in pleural effusions

We measured prostaglandins (PGs) in human pleural effusions of 43 patients with various diseases using microcolumn high performance liquid chromatography with a He/Cd laser induced fluorescence detection system. PGD2 was not detected in the transdate effusions. In contrast, PGD2 was detected in pleural exudates (malignant effusions: 0.22 +/- 0.07 nmol/ml, tuberculous effusions: 0.28 +/- 0.08 nmol/ml). PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha concentrations in malignant effusions (1.62 +/- 0.17 nmol/ml, 14.40 +/- 1.33 nmol/ml, respectively) were significantly increased compared with tuberculous effusions (0.98 +/- 0.13 nmol/ml, 10.36 +/- 0.92 nmol/ml) and transdates (0.60 +/- 0.06 nmol/ml, 6.91 +/- 0.61 nmol/ml). On the contrary, there was no significant difference in PGF2 alpha concentrations between malignant effusions and tuberculous effusions. From these results, not only PGE2 but also PGD2 and PGI2 might be implicated in the pleural fluid accumulation.