Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis in man

7α-Hydroxy-5,11-diketotetranor-prostane-1,16-dioic acid, the major urinary metabolite of prostaglandins E₁ and E₂ in man, was determined in human urine by a method based on the use of the bis (O-²H₃-methyloxime) derivative of dimethyl 7α-hydroxy-5,11-diketotetranor-prostane-1,16-dioate as internal standard and determination of the ratio between unlabeled and deuterium-labeled molecules by multiple-ion analysis. Male subjects excreted larger amounts of the metabolite (6.5–46.7 μg/24 hours, n=10) than did female subjects (2.5–5.3 μg/24 hours, n=10). The excretion rate was strongly suppressed following oral administration of therapeutic doses of indomethacin, aspirin and sodium salicylate.