Antipsoriatic agents have been shown to decrease skin levels of arachidonic acid and its metabolites including 12-monohydroxy-eicosatetranoic acid (12-HETE), and leukotriene B4 (LTB4). In addition, specific systemic and topical lipoxygenase inhibitors have been reported to be effective in the treatment of psoriasis. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a potent oral leukotriene biosynthesis inhibitor (MK886) in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis. Clinical response together with the changes of LTB4 levels in lesional skin biopsy specimens, and urinary leukotriene E4 (LTE4) excretion were evaluated. In addition, markers of inflammation, proliferation and keratinization were studied immunohistochemically. No change in clinical scores or lesional LTB4 levels were observed with a 101/3-day course of MK886. A statistically significant reduction in urinary LTE4 excretion was observed: mean LTE4 70%) in urinary LTE4 excretion was found, and a slight decrease of epidermal PMN accumulation was observed, no correlative changes in clinical scores or LTB4 levels in skin lesion were found with a short course of MK886.