The study of pathogenetic basis of asthma using biostatistic models.

In 50 patients with asthma we have determined skin tests on dust and pollen allergens, forced expiratory volume for one second (FEV1) before and after subcutaneous injections of epinephrine standard dose, adrenoreactivity by adrenodependent cyclic AMP levels and glycogenolysis, cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity, levels of eosinophils in blood (in all 28 characteristic features). Factor and correlation analysis were carried out by electronic computer. In addition, in 121 patients we have determined adrenodependent glycogenolysis in leucocyte suspension incubated with various allergens the content of diene conjugates and total antioxidative activity of plasma. It is concluded that atopic and nonatopic forms of asthma are diseases of different nature in their constitutional origin, pathogenic agents of environment and cellular and subcellular mechanisms of their development. Moreover, the pathogenetic role of allergen-induced lipid peroxidation that correlates with lymphocyte adrenoreactivity is shown.