EFFECTS OF ROPIVACAINE ON EICOSANOID RELEASE FROM HUMAN GRANULOCYTES AND ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS IN-VITRO

Objective: To examine the effects of ropivacaine, currently being inve stigated for treatment of ulcerative colitis, on the release of arachi donic acid metabolites. Material: Human granulocytes and endothelial c ells. Treatment: Ropivacaine, lidocaine, hydrocortisone, 5-amino-salic ylic acid or acetylsalicylic acid (10-1000 mu M). Methods: Leukotriene B-4, 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, 6-keto PGF(1 alpha) and 15-hydro xyeicosatetraenoic acid were measured using immuno assays. Wilcoxon si gned rank test was used for statistical calculations. Results: Ropivac aine dose-dependently inhibited zymosan-induced release of leukotriene B-4 and 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid whereas the release after iono phore stimulation was not affected. Ropivacaine was more potent than 5 -aminosalicylic acid but less potent compared to hydrocortisone. Ropiv acaine had only a weak inhibitory effect on the release of 15-hydroxye icosatetraenoic acid from zymosan- or ionophore-stimulated cells. In c ontrast to hydrocortisone and 5-aminosalicylic acid, ropivacaine only weakly affected the release of 6-keto PGF(1 alpha) after stimulation w ith thrombin. Conclusions: The inhibited release of 5-lipoxygenase pro ducts may account for some of the anti-inflammatory effects of ropivac aine seen in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.