[The changes in plasma beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG), platelet factor 4 (PF4) and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) after a...

In order to investigate the role of platelets in allergic asthma, the time related changes in plasma levels of beta-TG, PF4 and TXB2 were evaluated following BPT with HD in 19 patients with bronchial asthma who were positive in skin test and RAST to HD. The results obtained were as follows. 1) Plasma beta-TG and PF4 levels tended to increase following BPT with HD at the time of immediate asthmatic response (IAR) in patients showing IAR alone. 2) Plasma beta-TG and PF4 levels increased significantly (p less than 0.05) at IAR and tended to increase at the time of late asthmatic response (LAR) in patients showing a dual asthmatic response (DAR). 3) The levels of plasma TXB2 in patients showing IAR alone significantly increased at IAR (p less than 0.05) and gradually decreased and the levels of plasma TXB2 in patients showing a DAR increased in each period of IAR, 3 hr after BPT and LAR, and the peak of TXB2 was observed in 3 hours after BPT. 4) These results suggest that platelets are activated at IAR and there was also a possible activation in platelets at LAR.