Prostaglandins in burn injury

Prostaglandins are produced in the early stages of a burn injury. Key mediators include:

• prostaglandin E2; it increases vascular permeability
• leukotrienes B4 to D4 increase vascular permeability
• prostaglandin I2; vasodilator and increased vascular permeability
• thromboxane A2; causes vasoconstriction in the zone around the burn, so extending the zone of necrosis

Sources include:

• neutrophils
• macrophages
• platelets - for thromboxane A2

In a sheep burn model, anti-inflammatory drugs reduce the levels of prostaglandins but have little effect on oedema.