[The pathochemical mechanisms of bronchospasm after physical exertion in bronchial asthma patients]

As many as 71 bronchial asthma (BA) patients and 12 patients suffering from chronic asthmatic bronchitis were examined in the stage of subsiding exacerbation. Before and 10 minutes after exercise measurements were made of the blood content of histamine (H), PGF2 alpha and PGE, adrenaline (A) and noradrenaline (NA), hydroperoxides (HP), and of the general and non-protein thiol groups. The initial level of H, PGF2 alpha, HP, A and NA was so much higher than the control value and the degree of its increase after exercise was so much more significant the more pronounced bronchospasm of effort (BE). The content of PGE after exercise rose to an approximately equal measure both in patients and in healthy subjects thereby pointing out to the relationship between the PGE increment and muscular work itself. The low level of thiol group in BA patients' blood determined by the pathological process was noticeably reduced after exercise, paralleled by an increase in the content of HP. Thus, muscular work in BA patients demonstrates high responsiveness of the systems that produce bronchoconstricting substances. It is likely that BE and its degree in BA patients may be predicted more significantly on the basis of the blood content of H, PGF2 alpha and HP rather than on the basis of the clinical and functional parameters.