Prostaglandin catabolism and ulcerative colitis: effect of sulphasalazine, 5-aminosalicylic acid and other drugs.

1. Evidence is presented for the occurrence of type 1 prostaglandin 15-hydroxydehydrogenase in human rectal mucosa. No evidence of the presence of type 2 enzyme was found. 2. A 15-keto-prostaglandin reductase, responsible for the breakdown of 13,14-dihydro-15-keto prostaglandins to 13,14-dihydro prostaglandins, was also present in human rectal mucosa. 3. Ulcerative colitis patients catabolized prostaglandins to the same extent as the control group. PGE1 was catabolized significantly better than PGF2 alpha. 4. 5-Aminosalicylic acid and sulphapyridine did not affect prostaglandin catabolism. Sulphasalazine, methylsulphasalazine, indomethacin, flurbiprofen, disodium cromoglycate, sodium salicylate and carbenoxolone sodium inhibited prostaglandin catabolism to the same extent in both groups. Salicylazosulphadimidine was a more potent inhibitor of PGE1 catabolism than of PGF2 alpha. 5. The increased prostaglandin synthesis reported for ulcerative colitis patients was not paralleled by increased catabolism, a fact possibly contributing to the accumulation of such compounds in the diseased state.