[Effects of prostaglandins on toxic and inflammatory liver diseases. A short review].

This short review deals with actions of prostaglandins (PG) and leukotrienes (LT) in liver injury. According to experimental data PGs of the E- and I-series seem to play an important role as metabolic, cytoprotective, antifibrogenic, immunomodulating and hemodynamic regulatory factors having interest in human pathology. In human cirrhosis with portal hypertension elevated PGI levels promote the formation of a collateral circulation. Some studies suggest that renal PGs could be involved in the regulation of renal hemodynamics in cirrhosis and have probably pathogenetic value in the development of the hepatorenal syndrome. LTs act as mediators of inflammatory liver reactions. Conclusively, one can predict that eicosanoid research will lead to some progress in clinical hepatology.