Anti-inflammatory drugs, prostaglandins and leucocyte migration.

The action of some non-steroidal acidic anti-inflammatory drugs, aspirin, phenylbutazone and indomethacin, in reducing leucocyte migration into the exudates of inert porous sponges implanted subdermally in the rat has been shown to be distinct from their effect in reducing the content of prostaglandins in the exudates. It is concluded that a component of the anti-inflammatory and antirheumatic actions of the drugs is concerned with a mechanism other than inhibition of prostaglandin biosynthesis.