Increased levels of blood platelet-activating factor in bronchial asthmatic patients with active symptoms.

Levels of platelet-activating factor (PAF) in blood from 12 bronchial asthmatic patients (six atopic and six nonatopic) were measured by radioimmunoassay after lipid extraction and separation by high-performance liquid chromatography. None of the patients were given disodium cromoglycate and prednisolone, and they were instructed to take only regular medications during the tests. Blood was drawn from the patients in a fasting state, and PAF levels were compared between the times when they were free of asthmatic symptoms and when they had mild spontaneous attacks. Ten (six atopic and four nonatopic) out of 12 patients, when they had the asthmatic attacks, showed higher levels of PAF than when they were free of the symptoms. Blood PAF levels of the patients with the active symptoms were significantly higher than those of normal healthy control subjects, suggesting that PAF may play a role in bronchial asthma.