Oxylipin Profiles During the First Day of Mechanical Ventilation in an Intensive Care Unit Cohort

Lipid mediators derived from arachidonic acid and other precursor polyunsaturated fatty acids, collectively known as oxylipins, are metabolized along different distinct pathways and play important roles in the modulation of inflammation.^1,2  Blood oxylipin profiles have been shown to correlate with the survival and development of acute respiratory distress syndrome in patients with sepsis or septic shock.^3–5  We aimed to explore serum oxylipin profiles using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry quantification as previously described⁶  during the first day of mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit (ICU). Previously, we have noted elevated plasma concentrations of thromboxane B₂, prostaglandin E₂, 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoate, and 11-hydroxyeicosatetraenoate in response to experimental hyperinflation lung injury⁷  in a large animal model. Based on this, we hypothesized that these metabolites would increase in response to mechanical ventilation in patients. Decreases in a subset of oxylipins have been...