Source
Department of Medicine, Jagiellonian University School of Medicine, Kraków, Poland. mmszczek@cyf-kr-edu.pl
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW:
In up to 10% of patients with bronchial asthma, aspirin and other nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs precipitate asthmatic attacks. This is a hallmark of a distinct clinical syndrome that develops according to a characteristic sequence of symptoms. Here we discuss its clinical picture and management as related to the abnormalities in arachidonic acid transformations.
RECENT FINDINGS:
At the biochemical level, the characteristic feature is profound alteration in eicosanoid biosynthesis and metabolism. Major advances in the molecular biology of eicosanoids, exemplified by the cloning of cysteinyl-leukotriene receptors and discovery of a whole family of cyclooxygenase enzymes, offer new insights into mechanisms operating in aspirin-induced asthma. Clinical interest has been enhanced by the introduction into therapy of highly specific cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors and antileukotriene drugs.
SUMMARY:
Recent studies have improved our understanding of mechanisms operating in asthma and unvieled the role of eicosanoid mediators in pulmonary disease.