AUTOIMMUNE VASCULITIS PRECEDING ASPIRIN-INDUCED ASTHMA

Two female patients have been described in whom peripheral vasculitis with cold sensitivity preceded by about 5 years typical symptoms of as pirin-induced asthma. Vasculitis was immunologically mediated and took the form of either limited cutaneous scleroderma or perniosis. Antinu clear autoantibodies of SS-B specificity were present in the serum. Ch allenge with aspirin provoked asthma and distinct blood circulation di sturbance in the hands. It is speculated that in these patients vascul itis and asthma were causally linked, and leukotrienes mediated bronch ial and vascular reactions that occurred simultaneously following aspi rin administration.