REACTIVE OXYGEN METABOLITES - THERAPEUTIC IMPLICATIONS OF THEIR ROLE IN INFLAMMATORY DISEASE

There is a large body of circumstantial evidence to suggest that react ive oxygen metabolites are important mediators of the pathophysiology observed in a variety of inflammatory disorders. Intravenous administr ation of certain antioxidants with well-defined mechanisms of action, for example superoxide dismutase and catalase, has been suggested as a possible mode of therapy for some inflammatory disorders. Unfortunate ly. the circulating half-lives of these enzymes are very short. This l imits the use of these compounds to only very acute inflammatory condi tions, or requires multiple injections or continuous infusion over lon g periods of lime in more chronic conditions. The development and use of antioxidants with well-characterised mechanisms of action that can be administered over many days or weeks should prove useful in definin g a role for reactive oxygen metabolites in inflammatory tissue injury . These agents may also be valuable as pharmacological agents in treat ing these disease processes.