[Defects in the prostaglandin system. V. Inherited (?) disorder of prostacyclin degradation in the plasma (Wien-Döbling defect)].

The case report is presented of a woman of child-bearing age who developed myocardial infarction. An extremely shortened in vitro half-life of PGI2 in plasma was detected in this patient. This new familial defect "Wien-Döbling", in the prostaglandin system might affect an essential coregulator of haemostatic balance in man. It is not known whether this short half-life of PGI2 in vitro is due to accelerated degradation or a failure in stabilization of this biologically active compound.