Effect of imidazole on prostaglandin and thromboxane accumulation in urate arthritis.

High concentrations of prostaglandins E2 and F2alpha and much lower concentrations of thromboxane B2 occurs in joint washes of chicken 1--3 h after intra-articular injection of urate crystals. Pretreatment with 200 mg/kg imidazole i.v. reduced the concentration of prostaglandins and of thromboxane B2 in the joint washes significantly. Simultaneously, leucocyte invasion was delayed and development of oedema was inhibited. The results suggest that in urate crystal arthritis the effect on prostaglandin and thromboxane accumulation at the site of inflammation contributes to the anti-inflammatory activity of imidazole.