Asthma and aspirin intolerance

Undesirable reactions to aspirin and other non-steroidal antiinflammatory d rugs compose a diverse group of clinical manifestations with different path ogenic mechanisms. In this review we describe one particular type of manife station : aspirin-induced asthma. This syndrome describes a straightforward situation with typical clinical signs. The distinctive sign is asthma trig gered by aspirin and NSAID. Data has accumulated over recent years concerni ng the interference of these drugs with arachidonic acid metabolism in the bronchi and lungs. In patients sensitive to aspirin inhibition of cyclooxyg enase is accompanied by overproduction of cysteinyl leucotrienes. The clini cal course of this condition, the pathogenic mechanisms of the undesirable reactions to aspirin, and treatment are discussed.