Effects of the arachidonate lipoxygenase inhibitor BW755C on traumatic and peritumoural brain oedema.

The abstract BW755C is a novel non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent. It inhibits synthesis of prostaglandins and leukotrienes by inhibition in the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism. Cold injury induced vasogenic oedema was produced in 18 cats. The animals were sacrificed at six and twenty-four hours. One group was treated with BW755C. Seventeen white rabbits bearing an experimental brain tumour VX-2 carcinoma were treated for five consecutive days from the eight day after tumour injection to the thirteenth day. Untreated tumour bearing rabbits were used as control. Brain water content was measured by specific gravity method. BW755C did not reduce the water content following cold injury. There was no effect upon peritumoural oedema. The use of this novel blocking agent with diffuse effects in the arachidonic cascade was not beneficial for the reduction or prevention of brain oedema.