Refractory period to aspirin in a patient with aspirin-induced asthma

Oral aspirin challenge was used to detect unrecognized aspirin intolerance in a select group of 50 asthmatic patients who denied aspirin intolerance. A double-blind protocol was used to furtner study those patients who reacted to initial graded aspirin challenge. In one patient the use of a double-blind protocol led to the serendipitous discovery of a 72-hr refractory period to the adverse effects of aspirin, after initial ingestion of aspirin resulted in respiratory and systemic symptoms.