Prostanoid production in varicose veins: evidence for decreased prostacyclin with increased thromboxane A2 and prostaglandin E2 formation.

In this study, formation of arachidonic acid-derived prostanoids was investigated in saphenous veins of varicosed and nonvaricosed patients, all undergoing saphenectomy respectively for varicosis or in preparation for coronary bypass operation. Venous production of prostacyclin (PGI2), thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was assessed by bioassay and/or radioimmunologic assays as appropriate. Fragments of saphenous veins from varicosed patients produced significantly less PGI2 and more TXA2 and PGE2 than those from the control patients.