Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is a group of enzymes discovered more than a century ago in insect and snake poison. Not more than 20 years ago they were identified in vertebrates, and during the last five years, research has accelerated in relation to isolating and cloning several members of this super-family in humans. PLA2 inhibitors are in the process of being developed for pharmaceutical use. The purpose of this review is to outline the relevance and prospectives of PLA2 in a clinical perspective.