Aspects of bronchial reactivity to prostaglandins and aspirin in asthmatic patients.

The behaviour of bronchial reactivity to PGF2alpha was studied in asthmatic patients under various experimental conditions. Premedication with aminophylline, i.v., and, to a lesser extent, with DSCG afforded a partial protection, while beclomethasone dipropionate was inactive under this point of view. Diftalone, a new non-steroid anti-inflammatory agent, was well tolerated in 9 aspirin-intolerant asthmatic patients, and did not modify the bronchial response to PGF2alpha which was found to be generally lower then that of other aspirin-tolerant asthmatic patients. PGE 1-2 and DSCG prevented the bronchospasm induced by inhalation or ingestion of acetylsalicylic acid in a small group of patients. Good protection was also reached with PGE1-2 in the exercise-induced bronchospasm.