[Effects of eicosapentaenoic acid in patients with bronchial asthma]

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is composed of 20 unsaturated fatty acids and is similar to arachidonic acid. Epadel, the drug made from EPA, is reported not only to reduce levels of serum lipids, but also to have antiinflammatory and antiallergic effects. EPA may exert these effects via control of the production of prostanoids and leukotrienes. We studied the effects of EPA in patients with bronchial asthma who had hyperlipidemia. The patents were given EPA at 1800 mg/day and they recorded signs and symptoms in an asthma diary during a 2-week observation period and the 8 weeks during which they took the drug. Peak flow, leukotriene B4 concentration in urine, Leukotriene E4 concentration in urine, IgE level, total cholesterol level, and triglyceride level were measured before and after the 8 weeks of medication. Administration of EPA was associated with improvements in symptom score, therapeutic score, asthma score, and peak flow. EPA may be useful in patients with asthma complicated by hyperlipidemia.