The role of prostaglandins in Bartter's syndrome.

In two children with Bartter's syndrome, treatment with indomethacin halved the urinary excretion of prostaglandins E and F within 24 hours and subsequently maintained it within the normal range during follow-up for more than 5 years. Growth rate was improved and plasma renin and aldosterone and the urinary excretions of sodium and calcium fell to normal. Both children continued to lose excessive quantities of potassium in the urine. The results provide further evidence that over-production of prostaglandins is not the primary cause of Bartter's syndrome.