[Prostaglandins and the cardiovascular system]

Prostaglandins have been known for a long time to have a vaso-active action. The recent discovery that prostacycline or thromboxane A2 have a greater vascular action than the prostaglandins suggests that these substances may have a physiological or pathological role, for example in endotoxin shock, anaphylaxis, coronary thrombosis, chronic hypertension, etc. The discovery of the leukotrienes and their potent biological action of the cardiac rhythm reveals the importance of arachidonic acid metabolism, and therefore the fatty acids, in the cardiovascular system. This complex and as yet poorly understood metabolism offers a variety of options for pharmacological intervention. New approaches to drug treatment are being developed which may result in new treatment strategies in the years to come, thanks to the improved understanding of the biological role of prostaglandins, thromboxane and the leukotrienes in the cardiovascular system.