INVITRO TESTS FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF ASPIRIN-SENSITIVE ASTHMA

In patients with aspirin-sensitive asthma, no significant changes in plasma β-thromboglobulin or bicyclic prostaglandin (PG) E2 were observed during aspirin challenge. The addition of aspirin to platelet suspensions from patients with aspirin-sensitive asthma produced no detectable chemiluminescence. Small concentrations of aspirin generated PGF2α but not PGE2 or PGD2 from plasma in vitro. PGF2α levels were significantly higher in plasma from aspirin-sensitive patients and distinguished aspirin-sensitive from aspirin-tolerant patients with asthma. The results of this study suggest that the displacement of protein-bound PGF2α may be of importance in the pathogenesis of aspirin-induced asthma. © 1990 Mosby-Year Book, Inc.