Urinary leukotriene E4 and 11-dehydrothromboxane B2 in patients with aspirin-sensitive asthma

The objective of this study was to define the participation of cysteinyl leukotrienes (LTs) or thromboxane A₂ in the pathogenesis of aspirin-sensitive asthma (ASA). Leukotriene E₄ (LTE₄) and 11-dehydrothromboxane B₂ (11DTXB₂) values in spot urine were measured in 22 asthmatics with a history of aspirin sensitivity and in 17 without such a history of aspirin-sensitive asthma [NASA]) in the outpatient clinic. The urinary LTE₄ value was significantly higher in ASA patients than in NASA (340±47 vs 65±15 pg/mg·cr, P <0.001), but there was no significant difference in urinary 11DTXB2 between the two groups (891±77 vs 657±90 pg/mg·cr). A high value of LTE4 was not associated with type of asthma, severity of disease, oral prednisolone treatment, sex, or age. A higher value of 11DTXB₂ was observed in the atopic type than the nonatopic type in ASA (1086±111 vs 697±147 pg/mg·cr, P<0.05). No correlation was observed between urinary LTE₄ and 11DTXB₂ in either ASA or NASA. In conclusion, LTs may play an important role in the pathogenesis of ASA, and TXA₂ in the pathogenesis of the atopic type in ASA.