[Classification of bronchial asthma based on immunological mechanisms].

A classification of bronchial asthma based on immunological mechanisms is proposed. For this classification, asthma was divided into antigen-dependent and antigen-independent types. Antigen-dependent asthma was classified into antibody-dependent and antibody-independent sub-types. Antibody-dependent asthma was further subdivided into IgE-mediated, IgG-mediated, immune complex-mediated, and complement-mediated sub-types. Diisocyanate asthma was considered to be an example of antibody-independent asthma. Exercise-induced asthma and drug-induced asthma, such as aspirin-induced asthma, were included in the sub-type of antigen-independent asthma.