Prostaglandins cause an increase in serum acute-phase proteins in man, which is diminished in systemic sclerosis.

The prostaglandin E1 increases the plasma concentration of acute-phase proteins in man and decreases the concentration of certain carrier proteins. This response is greatly diminished in patients with systemic sclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disease leading to fibrosis. These findings pose new questions about the mediation of the acute-phase response and its role in controlling the inflammatory process.