In a single-blind, randomized, two-way cross-over study with 12 healthy male volunteers, 60 micrograms of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) or placebo was administered by intravenous infusion during a 120-min period. PGE1, 13,14-dihydro-PGE1 (PGE0) and 15-keto-PGE0 plasma concentrations were measured by a highly specific and sensitive GC-MS/MS method. Endogenous PGE1 plasma concentrations ranged between 1.2 and 1.8 pg.ml-1. Endogenous PGE0 and 15-keto-PGE0 plasma concentrations varied from 0.8 to 1.3 pg.ml-1 and from 4.2 to 6.0 pg/ml respectively. During intravenous infusion of PGE1, plasma PGE1 concentrations rose to a level twice as high as during the placebo infusion. In contrast, PGE0 plasma concentrations were 8 times higher during PGE1 infusion than during placebo infusion, and 15-keto-PGE0 plasma concentrations were 20 times higher. The new analytical method has thus been useful to describe the pharmacokinetics of PGE1 and its metabolites PGE0 and 15-keto-PGE0, during and after intravenous infusion of PGE1.