It has been proposed that changes in the synthesis of endogenous prostaglandins level may contribute to the pathogenesis of gastric and duodenal mucosa injury. The aim of this study was to determine the level of endogenous prostaglandine E2 (PGE2), 6-oxo-prostaglandine F1alfa (6-oxo-PGF1alfa) and tromboxane B2 (TXB2) in duodenal mucosa. The effect of cigarette smoking on the prostaglandine synthesis was also evaluated. The synthesis of endogenous prostaglandine was investigated in the following groups: 49 patients with duodenal ulcer, 30 patients with duodenitis and 29 healthy controls. The level of PGE2 and 6-oxo-PGFalfa in duodenal mucosa were significantly lower in the patients with duodenal ulcer and duodenitis compared to healthy subjects (p<0, 01). The content of TXB2 did not differ significantly among the 3 gruops. The subjects with duodenal ulcer smoking more than 50 cigarettes per day had significantly lower concentration of PGE2 and 6-oxo-PGF1alfa in (p<0, 01) and a higher concentration of TXB2 in duodenal mucosa than the non-smokers (p<0, 01). The smokers with duodenitis had significantly higher endogenous TXB2 levelcompared to the non-smokers with duodenitis (p<0, 05). The results od this study demonstrated decreased prostaglandine synthesis in patients with duodenal ulcer and duodenitis as compared with healthy subjects, suggesting that reduction in endogenous prostaglandine synthesis may predispose uodenal mucosa to injury such as that form cigarette smoking.

Clinical medical sciences