Plasma eicosanoids, platelet function and cold sensitivity.

As abnormal eicosanoid (prostaglandin) metabolism has been suggested as a factor in the aetiology of vasospastic diseases we have measured levels of stable eicosanoid metabolites using a radioimmunoassay in 30 normal subjects and 31 patients with Raynaud's phenomenon. There were 13 patients with primary Raynaud's, ten with Raynaud's secondary to scleroderma and eight men with vibration white finger (VWF) disease. We have also measured platelet aggregation to adenosine diphosphate (ADP), collagen and adrenaline in 19 normal subjects, 22 patients with primary Raynaud's, 12 with Raynaud's secondary to scleroderma and 14 men with VWF. When compared with our normal subjects, patients with VWF have an elevated thromboxane B2 level, with a normal 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) level. Their platelets are less sensitive to ADP and collagen. Patients with primary and secondary Raynaud's have elevated thromboxane B2 levels but this is much more marked in the secondary group. Patients with primary Raynaud's have a normal 6-keto-PGF1 alpha level but in patients with secondary Raynaud's the 6-keto-PGF1 alpha level is markedly raised. The platelets from both groups are more sensitive to ADP and collagen and this is more marked in the secondary group. Whether these phenomena are a cause or an effect of vasospasm remains unknown.