Do prostaglandins have a role in breathlessness?

The effects of indomethacin on the relationship between breathlessness and minute ventilation during exercise have been determined in a double-blind, randomized study on 6 normal subjects. Indomethacin did not significantly after ventilation or oxygen uptake either at rest or during submaximal exercise. Breathlessness was assessed with visual analogue scales, and, when compared with placebo, the sensation was significantly reduced in relation to ventilation (p less than 0.02). These findings provide evidence of a possible role for prostanoids in the mechanisms that give rise to breathlessness.