Abstract

BACKGROUND--Children with cyanotic congenital heart disease and pulmonary outflow tract obstruction have shortened platelet survival times and are susceptible to thrombosis and organ infarction. Thromboxane A2 and prostacyclin have opposing actions on platelet aggregability and an imbalance in their biosynthesis might contribute to the pathophysiology of these complications. METHODS--Biosynthesis of thromboxane A2 and prostacyclin was investigated in 16 children (4-32 months, median 18 months) with cyanotic congenital heart disease and pulmonary outflow tract obstruction and compared with 16 healthy children of a similar age (6-34 months, median 24 months). Urinary excretion of 2,3-dinor-thromboxane B2 (a metabolite of thromboxane A2) and of 2,3-dinor-6-oxo-prostaglandin F1 alpha (a metabolite of prostacyclin) was measured. RESULTS--The children with cyanotic congenital heart disease and pulmonary outflow tract obstruction excreted more 2,3-dinor-thromboxane B2 than the healthy children: 916(163) compared with 592(122) ng/g creatinine (mean(SEM); 2p = 0.014). The ratio of excretion of 2,3-dinor-thromboxane B2 to 2,3-dinor-prostaglandin F1 alpha was greater in the patients than in the healthy control group (2.38(0.28) v 1.3(0.22)) (2p = 0.002). CONCLUSION--The balance between biosynthesis of prostacyclin and of thromboxane A2 is abnormal in children with cyanotic congenital heart disease and pulmonary outflow tract obstruction and favours platelet aggregation and vasoconstriction.