drug modulation
Last reviewed 01/2018
Clinical therapeutics target the arachidonic acid pathway in several ways:
- inhibition, primarily producing anti-inflammatory effects:
- glucocorticoid steroids promote the production of lipocortin, a substance which inhibits arachidonic acid metabolism
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit cyclo-oxygenase
- stimulation:
- PGE2 and PGF2 alpha are used as abortifacients
- PGE1 is used to keep the ductus arteriosus patent prior to surgery for congenital heart defects
- PGI2 is used to decrease pulmonary hypertension in neonates