Arachidonic acid metabolism and inhibition of cyclooxygenase in platelets from asthmatic subjects with aspirin intolerance.

Exaggerated inhibition of cyclooxygenase has been proposed as a mechanism of drug-induced bronchospasm in aspirin-intolerant patients. This study, using platelets, shows that inhibition of prostaglandin biosynthesis by aspirin is unmodified in patients when compared with healthy subjects. The ratio of cyclooxygenase:lipoxygenase products is similar in platelets from patients and control subjects. We conclude that the cyclooxygenase alteration observed in cells from the respiratory tract is not generalised to other cells such as platelets. We also propose that the major abnormality in NSAID-intolerant patients would affect receptivity to lipoxygenase products more than their biosynthesis.