Effects of a 72-hour prostacyclin infusion on the hormone levels in patients with obliterative arterial disease.

Effects of a 72-h prostacyclin (PGI2) infusion (5 ng/kg/min) on hormone levels were studied in 11 patients (5 males, 6 females) suffering from obliterative arterial disease of the lower extremities. ACTH, cortisol, TSH, prolactin (Prl), GH, LH, FSH, T3, T4, calcitonin, parathyroid hormone (PTH), insulin, plasma renin activity (PRA), aldosterone and testosterone levels were measured at -15, 0, 30, 120, 240 min and 24, 48, 72 and 96 h after the infusion. During the first 240 min Prl and GH levels showed an increase that was thought to be either an effect of release of hormones or a consequence of stress. At the same time the thyroid hormones, T3, T4 and calcitonin decreased, presumably owing to an alteration in the blood flow to the thyroid gland. All these hormone levels returned to normal at 24 h in spite of the infusion continuing. PRA increased only during the second half of the infusion. No changes were found in the levels of ACTH, cortisol, TSH, LH, FSH, PTH, insulin, aldosterone and testosterone during the infusion. Five diabetics showed the same hormonal changes as the non-diabetics and their blood sugar levels remained unaffected during and after the procedure.