PGE(1) or PGI(2) acutely increase total skin perfusion in healthy volunteers. This study investigated whether skin nutritive perfusion and capillary pressure were increased by acute infusion of PGE(1). In a double blind randomised placebo controlled study the effect of Alprostadil (PGE(1), Prostavasin, intra-venous, infusion rate: 0.38 microg/h/kg,) on skin nailfold capillary blood pressure (CP) and capillary red blood cell velocity (CBV) was investigated in 16 healthy volunteers (placebo: 5 male, 3 female, age: 27.7, range: 22-29 years; Alprostadil: 5 m, 3 f, age 27.1, 22-38 y), using the electrical impedance servo nulling technique and spatial shift alignment method, respectively. Initial finger tip temperature, systemic blood pressure, heart rate, CP, capillary pulse pressure amplitude (CPPA) and CBV showed no significant differences between the two groups (placebo: 23.6 +/- 3.0 degrees C, 123 +/- 13/83 +/- 5 mmHg, 63 +/- 11 beats/min, 15.6 +/- 3.9 mmHg, 1.5 +/- 1.8 mmHg, and 425 microm/s (290-800); Alprostadil: 23.4 +/- 2.7 degrees C, 121 +/- 9/82 +/- 10 mmHg, 65 +/- 9 beats/min, 14.4 +/- 3.7 mmHg, 1.8 +/- 1.3 mmHg, and 680 (140-1090 microm/s)). Twenty minute infusion with either Alprostadil or placebo had no significant effect on any of the parameters measured. Thus, in healthy volunteers, skin capillary blood pressure, capillary pulse pressure amplitude and capillary blood velocity are unaltered by acute administration of PGE(1) at ambient temperatures.