Role of arachidonic acid metabolites in inflammatory and thrombotic responses.

Arachidonic acid is converted by mammalian enzymes to a variety of oxygenated metabolites which include prostaglandins, thromboxanes and leukotrienes (collectively called eicosanoids). These products may contribute to the pathogenesis of several conditions including inflammation, asthma, thrombotic disease, Bartter's syndrome, dysmenorrhoea, threatened abortion, premature labour and cancer. In this paper the evidence that eicosanoids contribute to inflammatory and thrombotic responses will be considered. As such a discussion requires an understanding of the biosynthesis of the eicosanoids this aspect will be considered first.