A patient takes a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) after a minor tissue injury. Which effect dominates regarding inflammation and pain modulation?

💡 Explanation

NSAIDs inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, which are necessary for prostaglandin synthesis. Because prostaglandins mediate pain and inflammation, their reduced production attenuates pain and inflammation. Therefore, reduced prostaglandin production dominates, rather than increased leukotrienes, thromboxanes, or cytokine release, which NSAIDs do not directly target.

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