Aspirin treatment of patients with aspirin intolerance, asthma, and nasal polyps.

Patients with the triad of aspirin (ASA) intolerance, asthma, and nasal polyps present a clinical challenge for the allergist because their polyps generally are refractory to traditional treatments and their asthmatic symptoms may become more difficult to control with time. These patients can be desensitized and treated with ASA with subsequent improvement in their nasal and respiratory symptoms. This article describes one such individual and briefly reviews the literature regarding this triad. The diagnosis of ASA intolerance, mechanistic studies, a desensitization protocol, and new therapies are reviewed.