Serial changes of plasma cortisol levels during various types of asthmatic responses due to allergen inhalation.

To observe possible changes in adrenal function during asthmatic attacks due to allergen inhalation, plasma cortisol levels were measured serially in asthmatic patients who showed immediate asthmatic responses, late asthmatic responses, and dual asthmatic responses were compared with their diurnal levels. There were slightly different patterns of cortisol responses among these groups. In the five patients who showed late asthmatic responses alone, cortisol levels fell significantly during late-type attacks although the decrease was quantitatively small. In the six patients who showed immediate asthmatic responses alone, cortisol levels tended to increase slightly during immediate-type attacks. Cortisol levels in the group with dual asthmatic responses increased slightly during immediate attacks and significantly decreased during late-type attacks, although the decrease was also small.