[The leukotriene B4 content of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and the function of the prostacyclin-thromboxane system in patients with variants of chronic bronchitis].

A study was made of the content of leukotriene B4, prostacycline and thromboxane A2 in the fluid of bronchoalveolar lavage in 62 patients with chronic bronchitis (CB) in the stage of exacerbation and remission. The time course of changes in the concentration of the eukosanoids was compared with the status of pulmonary local defense factors and cellular immunity. In catarrhal obstructive bronchitis, an important mechanism of a steady maintenance of bronchial obstruction involved a rise of the content of leukotriene B4 whereas in purulent obstructive bronchitis, it was an excess level of thromboxane A2. It is assumed that immunologically dependent activation of the leukotriene B4 and thromboxane synthetase capacity of alveolar macrophages may stipulate the clinical course of CB, modulating the bronchoconstrictor or inflammatory component of the disease. To correct phlogogenous function of alveolar macrophages, the use of immunomodulating therapy with a selective action on the suppressor component of immunity is desirable.