["Alternative" effects of local anesthetic agents]

The following article summarizes different aspects of local anesthetic effects that cannot be explained purely by a sodium channel blockade. Particularly remarkable is hereby their antiinflammatory activity, e.g. the inhibition of pathological changes such as excessive stimulation of the inflammatory system, without compromising the host defense system. In contrast to other immunosuppressive drugs commonly used for treating such conditions, local anesthetics look promising for the future as a new therapeutic option. Besides general anesthetic activity, local anesthetics exert cerebroprotective effects and are furthermore, in consideration of their cardiovascular stability, of interest during neuroanesthetic procedures. In addition, local anesthetics are known for their potency to minimize bronchial hyperreactivity, although details of the underlying mechanisms are not yet elucidated. These effects of local anesthetics may represent interesting prospects for which their relevance has to be determined.