Metabolic changes of arachidonic acid in aspirin desensitization [Cambios metabolicos del acido araquidonico en la desensibilizacion a la aspirina]

Abstract

Aspirin sensitivity occurs in 10% of all asthmatic patients. In this subset of asthmatics, nasal congestion and bronchospasm occurs between 30-180 minutes after ingestion of aspirin. Following a respiratory reaction to aspirin, all patients can be desensitized to aspirin by repetitively introducing small and then larger doses of aspirin until the asthmatic subject can ingest 650 mg of aspirin without adverse effect. The mechanism of aspirin sensitivity are incompletely understood. And the reasons why ASA densensitization occurs universally are unknown. In this study, known ASA sensitive and control insensitive asthmatics were challenged with ASA. Urine was collected before, during induced bronchospasm, and after ingestion of 650 mg of ASA when the adverse effect (ie., acute desensitization) had subsided. Excretion levels of cyclo-oxygenase and hypoxygenase products in the urine were determined.