Synthetic arterial grafts cause prolonged increase in the in vivo formation of thromboxane and prostacyclin in humans

To evaluate the in vivo production of thromboxane A2 and prostacyclin their major urinary metabolites were measured in patients following graft replacement of the abdominal aorta. Specific methods based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were used to measure the urinary excretion of 2,3-dinor-TxB2 and 2,3-dinor-6-keto-PGF1 alpha. The excretion of these metabolites increased tenfold and almost fortyfold during post-operative Day 1 and remained elevated 6-10 days p.o. In a group undergoing cholecystectomy smaller changes of shorter duration were seen. It is concluded from this study that synthetic grafts cause prolonged increase in the in vivo formation of thromboxane A2 and prostacyclin. The reason for the increased TxA2 formation is probably platelet interaction with the foreign surface, whereas the increase of PGI2 could be part of a vascular defense against induced thrombotic activity. Those increases may have pathophysiologic implications.