Prostacyclin and thromboxane A2 derivatives in rhegmatogenous subretinal fluid.

Aberrations in prostacyclin and thromboxane A2 metabolism have been implicated in a wide spectrum of systemic disease. To our knowledge, derivatives of prostacyclin and thromboxane A2 have not been demonstrated previously in the subretinal fluid of rhegmatogenous detachments. Radioimmunoassays to determine levels of stable derivatives of prostacyclin and thromboxane A2, 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) and thromboxane B2, in rhegmatogenous subretinal fluid samples from ten patients showed the following: 6-keto-PGF1 alpha level, less than 100 to 1,268 pg/mL; thromboxane B2 level, less than 100 to 3,619 pg/mL. The fact that some of these concentrations are higher than the circulating plasma concentrations of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and thromboxane B2 suggests endogenous ocular production. Our findings establish the presence of prostacyclin and thromboxane A2 derivatives in the rhegmatogenous subretinal fluid.