title: Effect of dithranol treatment on arachidonic acid and its lipoxygenase products in psoriasis.
abstract: The concentrations of arachidonic acid and its lipoxygenase metabolites were measured in exudates from lesional psoriatic skin during treatment with 0.25% dithranol (anthralin) applied topically for 10 days. Dithranol caused a reduction in the concentration of arachidonic acid at 10 days (167 +/- 42 and 358 +/- 55 ng ml-1 treated and control sites respectively, p less than 0.05) concurrent with clinical improvement of the lesions. Neither 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid nor leukotriene B4 concentrations were significantly affected. These results do not support the view that lipoxygenase products are of major importance in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dermatology, United Medical School, Guys Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Barr
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Mallet
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Greaves
mesh_terms: D019377:12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid; D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D000875:Anthralin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006893:Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D007975:Leukotriene B4 / Q000378:metabolism; D008084:Lipoxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D006893:Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids; D007975:Leukotriene B4; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D019377:12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid; D008084:Lipoxygenase; D000875:Anthralin