Drugs for Treatment of Inflammation
Inflammation is a widespread pathological process that accompanies virtually every disease. The well known examples of tissue inflammation are pneumonia, hepatitis, nephritis, arthritis, etc. In some cases, the inflammation is localized mainly in the wall of blood vessels (vasculitis), for example in systemic lupus erythematosus, phlebitis, arthritis, myositis. However, any inflammation causes a disturbance of local blood circulation - hyperemia, edema, venous and lymphatic thrombosis, migration of blood cells in the area of inflammation.
In most cases, inflammation is treated with anti-inflammatory medications. Anti-inflammatory effects include:
- reducing release of mediators of inflammation through stabilization of intracellular structures and cell membranes
- pain relief
- reduction of permeability of blood capillaries
- inhibition of cell proliferation in the inflammation area, i.e. prevention of granuloma and excessive sclerosis formation which cause chronic inflammation
Anti-inflammatory drugs are divided into steroidal and non-steroidal. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs include salicylates, pyrazolone and aniline derivatives and derivatives of organic acids (Citramon, Voltaren, Indometacin, etc.). All of these drugs to a greater or lesser degree have an antipyretic effect.
