of practical applications of these substances. This book aims at filling this gap and should be of interest to clinicians as well as to medical and basic scientists in academic institutions and in the pharmaceutical industry. In some areas, exciting potential applications of prostaglandins have been identified from basic research but clinical trials have so far not been carried out. Such areas of practical applications are covered in a separate intro­ ductory chapter. All contributors to the volume are scientists and clinicians actively engaged in prostaglandin research and most are recognized authorities in specific areas. The need for rapid publication in a fast-expanding field is obvious.