Nimesulide does not interfere with airway responsiveness in allergic asthma

The clinical use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in asthmatic patients is limited by the possibility that these drugs may aggravate asthma by increasing the production of leukotrienes. Nimesulide, an NSAID with a weak inhibitory activity on prostaglandin synthetase, has been hypothesised to be safer than other NSAIDs in asthma. We have recently demonstrated in asthmatics who were allergic to the house dust mite that nimesulide neither alters the bronchial response to allergen nor aggravates the allergen-induced increase in airway responsiveness.