Oral acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) challenge in asthmatic children

Abstract

Asthmatic children (32), mean age 9.6 yr (range: 6-14 yr), were studied by oral challenge with acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), and their PEFR [peak expiratory flow rate] was recorded at 30 min intervals for 3 h. They had been asthmatic for a mean of 7.1 yr. Other allergic symptoms (urticaria, rhinitis or atopic dermatitis), were present in 81% of the patients, and a family history of atopy in 94%. The mean blood eosinophilia was 590 cells/mm3. In 3 children aspirin induced a fall in PEFR values less than 8% which was non-significant. In the group as a whole there was an increase in the PEFR values of 13.9%, 150 min after aspirin challenge. These values were subjected to statistical analysis (Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Student''s and Wilcoxon tests), which showed this increase to be significant at a level of P = 0.001. Possible mechanisms involving prostaglandin synthetase inhibition by aspirin were discussed as an explanation for this increase.