Authors
Dr. Rema M N, MD, Professor & HOD, Department of Pharmacology, Amala Institute of Medical Science, Thrissur.
Abstract
Inflammation is the result of concerted participation of a large number of vasoactive, chemotactic and proliferative factors at different stages and is a protective phenomenon of the body to external or internal trauma. The treatment of patients with inflammation involves two primary goals. First, the relief of pain, which is often the presenting symptom, and secondly slowing or arrest of the tissue damaging process. The anti inflammatory drugs belong to either steroidal group or non steroidal group. The glucocorticosteroid agents (steroids) are very effective anti-inflammatory agents clinically used. Unfortunately the toxicity associated with chronic corticosteroid therapy limits their use as anti- inflammatory agents except in the control of acute flare- ups of joint diseases. They act by inhibition of the release of prostaglandins by preventing the activation of Phospholipase A2. But t steroidsdo not come in the purview of this article.
The other group of anti-inflammatory drugs is the non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which play a significant role in treatment of inflammatory conditions.
Keywords: Inflammation, NSAIDs