Detection of leukotrienes B4, C4 and of their isomers in arterial,mixed venous blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from ARDS patients

Seven patients with the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) were studied. As a control group we used 6 surgical patients who underwent minor surgical operation (inguinal hernia). For both groups the same sample collection and analysis was used. The presence of leuktorienes (LTs) B₄ and C₄ and of their isomers 11-trans LTC₄ and 6-trans-12-epi LTB₄ was determined in arterial, mixed venous blood and in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. The samples, analysed by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), showed a similar chromatographic picture among ARDS patients, while the control group showed no detectable amounts of LTs in BAL or blood. The distribution of these arachidonic acid metabolites in mixed venous blood, arterial blood and BAL seems to suggest pulmonary metabolism and/or inactivation. It is suggested that these mediators act as humoral factors in pathogenesis of the ARDS.Giulio Crimi died on July 19th 1987; he actively contributed to this research; this work is dedicated to the memory of a dear friend and colleague