Exercise-induced asthma (E.I.A) affects 12-16% of the general population and most of the patients affected by extrinsic or intrinsic asthma. Surprisingly, also a high percentage of professional and Olympic athletes are affected, showing that E.I.A. does not impair physical activity, whereas endurance sports bear a higher risk than the others. The mast cell role, late asthmatic responses, diagnosis, therapy, theories and data about immunological parameters in sports are taken into consideration in this review.Fil: Saranz, Ricardo José. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Del Giacco, G. Sergio. Dipartimento di Medicina 2, Università di Cagliari, Policlinico Universitario, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, ItalyFil: Croce, Víctor Hugo. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Del Giacco, S.R. Dipto. di Sci. Mediche Internistiche, Policlinico Universitario, Università di Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy