EICOSANOIDS AND THE ESOPHAGUS

Eicosanoids are metabolites of arachidonic acid and include, among oth er compounds, the prostaglandins and leukotrienes. These metabolites a re known to play important roles in the health and disease of many gas trointestinal tissues. Less attention, however, has been given to thei r functions in the esophagus. The present study, therefore, aims both to review the current knowledge about eicosanoids in healthy and disea sed esophagi, and to critically assess the data pertaining to their ro le in the pathophysiology of gastroesophageal reflux disease.