ASPIRIN-INDUCED ASTHMA AS A RISK FACTOR FOR ASTHMA MORTALITY

We have recently reported severe airway obstruction and bronchial hype rresponsiveness (BHR) in fatal asthma compared with patients without a history of near-fatal asthma. Based on these findings, we evaluated w hether aspirin-induced asthma (AIA) is a risk factor for asthma mortal ity by analyzing pulmonary function and BHR. FEV1.0% and methacholine inhalation threshold were significantly lower in the fatal asthma grou p compared with the AIA and non-AIA groups. However, there were no sig nificant differences between the AIA and non-AIA groups. Our results s uggested that AIA is not a risk factor for asthma mortality if avoidan ce of aspirin and aspirin-like drugs is assured.