Abstract
Contributions of prostaglandin (PG) s, thromboxane (TX) s, and leukotriene (LT) s in the pathophysiology of bronchial asthma have not been clarified yet. In the experimental model of bronchial asthma, SRS-A and histamine are known to play an important role. But clinical analysis is rare. In this investigation we performed broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) in bronchial asthma patients and measured chemical mediators in three fractions of BAL fluid (BALF) and peripheral venous blood.
TXB2 and 11-dehydro-TXB2 were significantly increased in the BALF of patients with bronchial asthma. But their concentrations in the peripheral venous blood are not so high compared with those of control groups. PGD2 and PGF2α were not detected in the peripheral venous blood, but their levels in BALF were elevated in BALF of patient with bronchial asthma. Levels of leukotriene C4 were not elevated in BALF and peripheral venous blood compared with those of control group, but further study would be needed to evaluate the role of leukotrienes including LTC4 and LTD4.
