Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and arachidonic acid (AA), made into sodium sal
t solution (50 mu g/ml), were used for intravenous infusion. In a preclinic
al study in dogs, Na-EPA lowered the activity of transminases (glutamic pyr
uvic transaminase [GPT], glytamic oxaloacetic transaminase [GOT]); however,
Na-AA increased the activity of GPT and GOT. In the clinical study, the nu
mbers of leukocytes and lymphocytes of volunteers increased and remained at
that level for 3 to 5 days after intravenous infusion. The study indicated
that an intravenous infusion of Na-EPA may have anti-inflammatory and immu
nomodulatory effects.