title: Role of aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease.
abstract: Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that inhibit cyclooxygenase-1 participate in unique pseudoallergic reactions, in which biochemical inhibitions rather than immunoglobulin E antibody direct the cascade of mediators and ultimate reactions. The settings in which these reactions occur, the contrasts with true immunoglobulin E reactions to these same drugs, and the manner in which diagnosis and treatment can be undertaken form the basis for this review. A discussion of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors and their inability to participate in these pseudoallergic reactions is also included. Finally, strategies for desensitization to aspirin and the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that inhibit cyclo-oxygenase 1 will be detailed.
authors.affiliation: Scripps Clinic and Green Hospital, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Scripps Clinic and Green Hospital, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Donald D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Stevenson