Eighty-one patients with bronchial asthma (103 samples) were classified into three groups according to the severity of their asthmatic attacks. Contents of ET-1 and arachidonic metabolites (PGF₂α, 6-keto-PGF₁αand TXB₂) in plasma from 3 experimental groups were compared with those from 41 healthy individuals.
The severity of asthmatic attacks and the increase in plasma ET-1 values had a significant positive correlation, in spite of the fact that there were some patients with lower ET-1 values of patients without asthmatic attacks were insignificant. On the other hand, particularly in the infantile cases, after having experienced asthmatic attacks and flu-like symptoms some patients withous asthmatic attacks at the time of sampling showed elevated ET-1 values .
PGF₂αand 6-keto-PGF₁αbut not TXB₂showed significantly increased plasmatic values in patients with attacks when compared with those in patients free from attacks.
The correlation of ET-1 values and arachidonic metabolites was insignificant in patients either with or without asthmatic attacks.
In summary, we have observed the elevated ET-1 values in patients who are suffering asthmatic attacks. However, the plasmic amount of ET-1 and arachidonic metabolites showed insignificant correlation in those patients.

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We reported a case of congenital tracheal stenosis with the symptom of reccurent, intractable barking cough and wheeze. He was diagnosed as congenital laryngomalacia during neonatal period and latter required three acute hospitalizations under diagnosis of“apnea, reccurent croup, acute bronchiolitis, and bronchial asthma”. He was pointed out segmental stenosis on trachea by computed tomography and bronchofiberschope because of long lasting barking cough and wheeze. No anomaly were observed in heart and gastro-intestinal tract. Surgical treatmant has not been required so far because of good clinical course with conservative treatment. Pulmonary function test was performed at the age of 10years old and flow-volume curve shows typical shape which is expressed by lower expiratory peak flow than inspiratory one, being objective index on the management of tracheal stenosis. Not only chest X-ray and arterial blood gases but also flow-volume curve which can be easily and invasively performed at outpatient clinic are thought to be useful examination, although broncho-fiberschope and computed tomography are important to diagnose and evaluate disease

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