Relationship between urinary prostaglandin (PGE2 and PGF2 alpha) and sodium excretion in various stages of chronic liver disease.

A. No consistent changes in the urine PGE2 and PGF2 alpha related to sodium excretion could be found in hepatic cirrhosis with and without ascites. B. Intensive renal sodium retention in cirrhosis with ascites (urine Natless than 20 mEq/24 hr) is very often associated with increasing PGF/PGE ratio, whereas absolute urine PGE2 can be found low or normal. The PG shift is possibly due to a stimulation of the PGE2-9-keto-reductase. C. Application of saluretics and spironolactone in cirrhosis with ascites normalizes the PGF/PGE ratio in accordance with increasing sodium excretion. D. PG changes observed cannot be considered as a primary factor accounting for deranged renal sodium handling in cirrhosis. Anomalous PG pattern possibly reflects enchanced intrarenal vascular resistance.