INHIBITION OF LEUKOTRIENE RELEASE BY MOFEBUTAZONE - A POSSIBLE CLINICAL ADVANTAGE

The isolated perfused lung preparation from actively sensitized guinea -pigs was used; after it was challenged with antigen, mediators such a s histamine, prostaglandins and leukotrienes were released into the lu ng effluent. it was found that treatment of the perfused lungs before and during challenge with mofebutazone (10 mu g/ml) inhibited the immu nological release of prostaglandins as weil as leukotrienes. Phenylbut azone, on the other hand, al the same dose level inhibited the release of prostaglandins, whereas the release oi leukotrienes was much less affected by the drug. Histamine release was not altered by either drug . When clinically mofebutazone tablets (300 mg) were given as an analg esic twice daily for 15 days to a number of asthmatic volunteers inclu ding 3 aspirin-sensitive individuals, there was no increase in the inc idence or intensity of the asthmatic attacks, even in the aspirin sens itive patients. Pulmonary ventilatory functions which showed a certain obstructive pattern were not worsened by the treatment and even tende d to be somewhat improved.