Glucocorticoid in inflammatory proliferative skin disease reduces arachidonic and hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids.

Psoriasis is a prototype of several common, glucocorticoid responsive, inflammatory proliferative skin diseases. Within 28 hours, glucocorticoid reduced the increased concentration of free arachidonic acid in diseased tissue. This reduction was observed prior to visible improvement of disease and may be an important molecular mechanism for the therapeutic efficacy of glucocorticoids in psoriasis and similar inflammatory diseases.