AUTHOR=Patrono Carlo, Rocca Bianca TITLE=Measurement of Thromboxane Biosynthesis in Health and Disease JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology VOLUME=10 YEAR=2019 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2019.01244 DOI=10.3389/fphar.2019.01244 ISSN=1663-9812 ABSTRACT=Thromboxane (TX) A2 is a chemically unstable lipid mediator involved in several pathophysiologic processes, including primary hemostasis, atherothrombosis, inflammation, and cancer. In human platelets, TXA2 is the major arachidonic acid derivative via the cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 pathway. Assessment of platelet TXA2 biosynthesis can be performed ex vivo through measurement of serum TXB2, an index of platelet COX-1 activity, as well as in vivo through measurement of urinary enzymatic metabolites, a non-invasive index of platelet activation. This article reviews the main findings of four decades of clinical investigation based on these analytical approaches, focusing on the measurement of TXA2 metabolites to characterize the pathophysiologic role of transiently or persistently enhanced platelet activation and to describe the clinical pharmacology of COX-1 inhibition in health and disease.