An abnormality of arachidonic acid metabolism is not a generalized phenomenon in patients with aspirin-induced asthma.
Aspirin (ASA)-induced asthma is a distinct clinical syndrome in which bronchoconstrictive response to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be predicted on the basis of their in vitro activity as inhibitors of cyclooxygenase. In ten ASA-sensitive asthmatics and ten matched healthy controls we measured 12-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) production by platelets and 5-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) production by polymorphonuclear leucocytes. The blood cells were obtained before administration of the threshold doses of ASA and during the ASA-induced reactions. Initial levels of eicosanoids determined did not differ between the two groups. In both groups, after ASA challenge, 12-HETE rose to similar levels while 5-HETE and LTB4 remained unchanged. These data do not support the concept that an abnormality in the regulation of arachidonic acid oxidative pathways in ASA-sensitive asthmatics is a generalized phenomenon which embraces the platelets and leucocytes; rather it is inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase within the tissues of the respiratory tract that triggers asthmatic attacks in the sensitive patients.
Nizankowska
E
E
Department of Medicine, Copernicus Academy of Medicine, Cracow, Poland.
Michalska
Z
Z
Wandzilak
M
M
Radomski
M
M
Marcinkiewicz
E
E
Gryglewski
R J
RJ
Szczeklik
A
A
D019377:12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid; D000328:Adult; D001092:Arachidonate 12-Lipoxygenase / Q000097:blood; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000201:enzymology; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006893:Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids / Q000097:blood; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007975:Leukotriene B4 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D006893:Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids; D007975:Leukotriene B4; C022022:5-hydroxy-6,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid; D019377:12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid; D001092:Arachidonate 12-Lipoxygenase; D001241:Aspirin