[Asthma and aspirin]

Aspirin was discovered by Gerhardt in 1853. The first signs of problems in the form of asthmatiform dyspnoea were described in 1911 by Gilbert, then Reed and Cookes. Fernand Widal described the symptomatic triad characteristic of "aspirin illness" in 1922 with the association of "nasal polyposis, severe asthma and aspirin intolerance". It was in 1975 that the role of inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase was emphasized in physiological interpretation of the illness. Since then, very important progress has been made not only in the analysis of the affection, but also in its control not only by a new approach to "nose-bronchus" relationship which have enabled development of a new strategy in the "ORL and pneumologists". If the methods of immuno-allergological investigations, and especially scanning imagery and endoscopy, have made possible a better control of "aspirin illness" it still remains that this last often remains corticosteroid dependent. Important progress is expected with the discovery of anti-leucotrienes and several groups have shown the value of anti-leucotrienes in the management of "aspirin illness" so leading to the hope that one day there will be a reduction in the efficient limiting dose of corticosteroids.