Local and Systemic Production of Pro-Inflammatory Eicosanoids Is Inversely Related to Sensitization to Aeroallergens in Patients with Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease

Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is characterized by overproduction of the pro-inflammatory eicosanoids. Although immunoglobulin E-mediated sensitization to aeroallergens is common among AERD patients, it does not belong to the defining disease characteristics. In this study of 133 AERD patients, we sought to find a relationship between sensitization to aeroallergens and local (leukotriene E(4), prostaglandin E(2) and prostaglandin D(2)) and/or systemic (leukotriene E(4)) production of arachidonic acid metabolites. Interestingly, a negative association between pro-inflammatory eicosanoid levels in induced sputum supernatant or urine and sensitization to aeroallergens was observed. This inverse relationship might suggest the presence of a protective effect of atopic sensitization to aeroallergens against stronger local airway inflammation and higher systemic AERD-related inflammatory activity.