Low plasma cortisol concentrations during late asthmatic responses

An increase in superoxide generation of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids in the model of late asthmatic response in guinea pigs

To clarify the possible role of superoxide anion of bronchoalveolar cells in the pathogenesis of late asthmatic response (LAR), I performed an allergen inhalation test using a guinea pig LAR model and estimated subsequent changes in activities of superoxide generation in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALFs). Significant increases in superoxide generation of BALFs occurred not only immediately, but 6 hr after ovalbumin inhalation challenge in the LAR model, and the increased levels were prolonged 24 hr later. The present results suggest that significant increases in superoxide anion of the respiratory cells were involved in the antigen-induced late responsiveness of bronchial asthma.

Ethylenediamine-induced late asthmatic responses

We report two asthmatics working in the same factory who exhibited late asthmatic responses (LAR) to ethylenediamine (EDA) vapor. After several months of exposure to EDA, both patients developed productive coughing, wheezing, and dyspnea. Provocative inhalation tests using EDA evoked LAR in both patients, but it did not evoke any asthmatic symptoms in healthy subjects. IgE antibodies to EDA examined by intracutaneous and P-K tests were detected. It appears that, in these two cases, LAR are mainly due to immediate-type allergic reactions.