DIRECT EVIDENCE THAT LTC4 AND LTB4 BUT NOT TXA(2) ARE INVOLVED IN ASTHMA ATTACKS IN CHILDREN

There are substantial numbers of reports showing that leukotrienes (LT s) play important roles in adult asthma. No definite evidence has been demonstrated that LTs are involved in asthma attacks in children, alt hough it is highly expected. In this report, we demonstrated that the levels of LTB4 and LTC4 but not thromboxane B-2 (TXB2), a stable metab olite of TXA(2), were significantly elevated in the bronchoalveolar la vage fluid, which was obtained from intubated and mechanically ventila ted children with severe asthma attacks. This is direct evidence that LTB4 and LTC4 predominantly participate in asthma attacks in pediatric patients.