Prostaglandin E2 concentration in gastric secretions of critically ill, full-term, and premature infants.

Critically ill, full-term, and premature infants are at increased risk to develop gastric mucosal ulceration. The cytoprotective effects of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) may be important in the preservation of gastric mucosal integrity in these patients. PGE2 concentrations in the gastric secretions of seven full-term and 16 premature infants with severe pulmonary disease were measured by radioimmunoassay. The mean PGE2 concentration was significantly greater in the full-term infants (460 +/- 94 pg/ml), (mean +/- S.E.M.) than in the premature infants (190 +/- 35 pg/ml), P less than 0.01. There was a linear correlation between gestational age and PGE2 concentration, r = 0.70, P less than 0.001. In the 11 infants greater than or equal to 35 wk gestational age there was a linear correlation between gastric pH and PGE2 concentration, r = 0.69, P less than 0.01.