[Inflammation and pain: physiopathologic relations, therapeutic specificities].

A certain number of mediators in the body fluids are common to the regulation of both the inflammation reaction and the modification of pain impulses. In particular, prostaglandins are involved in both physiopathological processes. Inhibition of their biosynthesis provides at least a partial explanation for the analgesic properties of non steroidal anti-inflammatory agents and analgesics. The two classes of drugs have different pharmaceutical-clinical profiles, especially where safety is concerned, and this is probably explained by selective inhibition of the prostaglandins. The antipyretic and platelet aggregation inhibitory properties, gastrointestinal toxicity and induction of bronchospasm of each drug depend on the ability or inability of the various molecules to either inhibit, increase or leave unaffected the local synthesis of prostaglandins.