Prostaglandin E in the secretions of allergic rhinitis

Prostaglandin (PG) was extracted from nasal secretions of individuals with hay fever and from nasal washings of normal subjects. The extract was chromatographed in a silicic acid column and the purified PGE fraction was converted to PGB by alkaline dehydration. The PGB was then measured by a competitive radioimmunoassay with tritiated PGB1 and anti-PGB1 antibody, employing the double antibody technique. PGE was detected in the secretions of 6 of 12 hay fever patients and in the pooled normal nasal washings.