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Peter W. Ramwell, PhD

Arch Intern Med. 1981;141(3):275-278.

Abstract
• The most abundant prostaglandin precursor is arachidonic acid (or its precursor, linoleic acid). The isolation and identification of prostaglandin compounds in a particular tissue, knowledge of the biologic properties of these compounds, and the use of readily available inhibitors of the prostaglandin pathway by aspirin-like drugs constitute the main steps in identifying the clinically significant arachidonic acid-prostaglandin systems. However, arachidonate-prostaglandin products are still difficult to measure clinically. The inhibitory effect of hydrocortisone on slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis production can be partly reversed by arachidonic acid, which may explain aspirin- and indomethacin-sensitive asthma. Acetaminophen, when coadministered orally with aspirin and indomethacin, prevents gastric erosion. Long-acting prostaglandin analogues are currently used in obstetrics and are being tested in the treatment of thrombosis, inflammation, and excessive gastric acid secretion.

(Arch Intern Med 1981;141:275-278)

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC.

Footnotes
Reprint requests to the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20007 (Dr Ramwell).

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