Eicosanoid production by the mucosa in inflammatory bowel disease after 5-ASA treatment.

Eicosanoids were measured in biopsies of colonic mucosa from five patients with active ulcerative colitis before and after a four weeks of treatment with 5-amino-salicylic acid (5-ASA). Eicosanoid formation was determined after the addition of 14C-arachidonic acid and stimulation with calcium ionophore A23187. 5-ASA given intra-rectally caused a non-selective suppression of prostanoids, leukotrienes and hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acids. Changes in arachidonic acid metabolism after 5-ASA treatment were not always reflected in changes in inflammation score.