Which statement is true about Other Anti-Inflammatories as described (in relation to aspirin)?

Which statement is true about Other Anti-Inflammatories as described (in relation to aspirin)?

• A. They are antibiotics.
• B. They are steroids ending in -one and will NOT inhibit prostaglandin synthesis.
• C. They all inhibit prostaglandin synthesis more than aspirin.
• D. They are not anti-inflammatory.

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that anti-inflammatory drugs work by different mechanisms. Aspirin and other NSAIDs block the cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX) to stop prostaglandin production, which reduces inflammation, pain, and fever. In contrast, corticosteroids—often ending in -sone or -olone—are not antibiotics and they work by inhibiting phospholipase A2, the enzyme that frees arachidonic acid from cell membranes. With less arachidonic acid available, the whole downstream production of prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and other inflammatory mediators drops. So these steroids do interfere with prostaglandin synthesis, through the upstream step of limiting arachidonic acid availability. The statement that they will NOT inhibit prostaglandin synthesis contradicts their mechanism. In short, the steroid class described here is characterized by its steroid structure and its ability to dampen prostaglandin production, not by acting as an antibiotic or by avoiding prostaglandin inhibition.

The main idea is that anti-inflammatory drugs work by different mechanisms. Aspirin and other NSAIDs block the cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX) to stop prostaglandin production, which reduces inflammation, pain, and fever. In contrast, corticosteroids—often ending in -sone or -olone—are not antibiotics and they work by inhibiting phospholipase A2, the enzyme that frees arachidonic acid from cell membranes. With less arachidonic acid available, the whole downstream production of prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and other inflammatory mediators drops.

So these steroids do interfere with prostaglandin synthesis, through the upstream step of limiting arachidonic acid availability. The statement that they will NOT inhibit prostaglandin synthesis contradicts their mechanism. In short, the steroid class described here is characterized by its steroid structure and its ability to dampen prostaglandin production, not by acting as an antibiotic or by avoiding prostaglandin inhibition.