Thromboxane A2 could be involved in bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine in asthmatic subjects but not in bronchitic subjects

To determine whether the involvement of thromboxane A2 in bronchial hyperresponsiveness is specific to asthma, we examined the effects of a selective thromboxane synthetase inhibitor (OKY-046) and a cyclooxygenase inhibitor (indomethacin) on bronchial responsiveness to methacholine in patients with bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis. The provocative concentration of methacholine producing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in one second (PC20-FEV1) was measured before and after oral administration of OKY-046 and indomethacin in eight asthmatic and 10 bronchitic subjects. Baseline FEV1 value was not altered by OKY-046 or indomethacin. The geometric mean value of PC20-FEV1 increased significantly (p less than 0.005) from 1.78 to 4.27 mg/ml after OKY-046 in asthmatic subjects, but not in bronchitic subjects. On the other hand, PC20-FEV1 was not altered by indomethacin in all subjects. It was concluded that the involvement of thromboxane A2 in bronchial hyperresponsiveness may be specific to asthma.