BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS, INFLAMMATION AND NONS TEROIDAL ANTIINFLAMMATORY AGENTS

The inflammation is characterized by a multifrequency time structure d escribed both in the edematous reaction and in the migration of neutro philic polymorphonuclear (PMN) in the inflammatory site. The circadian rhythm of PMN migration appears to be similar when the migration was induced by BCG, LPS or carrageenan. The corticosteroids play an import ant role in the mechanisms in the circadian rhythm of PMN, but recent data in intact and castrated mice indicated that testosterone is also involved in these mechanims. In arthritic patients, the signs and symp toms of the diseases varied as a function of time of day and of the ty pe of arthritic diseases. Human data with indomethacin, ketoprofen and piroxicam indicated that it is possible to find an optimal time of da y for the administration of these non-steroidal antiinflammatory agent s (NSAID). Clinicians can use these chronopharmacological data to maxi mize the analgesic effect and to minimize the side effets of the NSAID . The research on biological rhythms in inflammation and in the effect s of NSAID lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms of inflamm ation and to the rational use of the drugs in arthritic patients.