Slaney, Could You Explain...

[ethandron]

I've just noticed you're around, slaney, and wondered if you could explain something for me..
How does aspirin, pentasa, and/or other medication cause or exacerbate asthma? What does it actually do inside that can cause wheezes in some people?
Thanks :)

[Buenchico]

Quote:
"Research (much of it done at the Brigham and Women's Hospital) has shown that in asthmatic persons sensitive to aspirin, aspirin causes the body to produce excess amounts of the class of chemicals known as leukotrienes. Leukotrienes cause the muscles surrounding the bronchial tubes to contract, resulting in wheezing and shortness of breath."

Source:
http://www.asthma.partners.org/newfiles/aspirinsensitivity.html

[slaney]

Can I get back to you later on that one ethandron.
Just had a message about the safe arrival of a new grandson...

[ethandron]

Wow slaney, 'course you can, many congratulations!
Thanks for that Chris, you're a whizz at googling. Can you find anything about pentasa?

[slaney]

As Chris says leukotrienes play a part, but there may be more to it than that, as when leukotrienes are blocked this does not entirely block the onset of asthma.
Aspirin (together with other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) is a COX 1 inhibitor and so reduces the production of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins help protect the airway passages and prevent broncospasm, so lack of prostoglandins would make a asthma attack more likely.

Pentasa is an aminosalicylate, aspirin is a salicylate so they are close chemically and I imagine the way they act in causing wheezes and asthma would be much the same.

[ethandron]

Thanks slaney, much appreciated.