title: Asthma improved by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
abstract: A patient who claimed benefit from aspirin for her reversible bronchospasm was challenged orally in a placebo-controlled study with aspirin and other aspirin-like drugs. Specific airways conductance and spirometry were monitored for up to 150 minutes after oral challenge. Aspirin, mefenamic acid, and ibuprofen administration resulted in marked (45% to 80%) improvement in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) compared to lactose placebo. Indomethacin, sodium salicylate, and tartrazine resulted in modest (15% to 25%) FEV1 improvement, while phenylbutazone produced a 25% decrease. These results are discussed here in terms of the ability of these drugs to inhibit the prostaglandin synthetase enzyme system. This case suggests that aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be beneficial rather than harmful in some asthmatic patients.
mesh_terms: D000403:Airway Resistance; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008528:Mefenamic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010653:Phenylbutazone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010919:Placebos; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012980:Sodium Salicylate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013147:Spirometry; D013645:Tartrazine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010919:Placebos; D008528:Mefenamic Acid; D010653:Phenylbutazone; D013645:Tartrazine; D001241:Aspirin; D012980:Sodium Salicylate; D007052:Ibuprofen; D007213:Indomethacin