GC/MS analysis of prostaglandins in ventricular cerebrospinal fluid from head injured humans.

The purpose of this study was to determine the levels of prostaglandins in ventricular cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from severely head injured humans on successive days following injury. Sixteen samples from three patients were purified using XAD-2 and high pressure liquid chromatography and PGE2, PGF2alpha, and 6-keto-PGF1alpha were quantitated utilizing deuterated internal standards and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Generally, the levels of PGs in ventricular CSF were found to be higher than has previously been reported for PGs in CSF from spinal taps. PG levels ranged from reported for PGs in CSF from spinal taps. PG levels ranged from nondetectable to 11.8, 3.3 and 27.3 ng per ml for PGE2, PGF2alpha, and 6-keto-PGF2alpha, respectively. However, in one sample, PG levels were much higher than this range and approached the levels found in human cortical tissue. Analysis of red and white blood cell numbers in the CSF showed no relationship between cell numbers and prostaglandin levels. This study confirms a previous report that 6-keto-PGF2alpha is the major prostaglandin in CSF and demonstrates that PG levels in ventricular CSF from head traumatized humans can be greatly elevated.