Studies on the role of the kallikrein-kinin system in bronchial asthma Part 1. Relationship between bronchial asthma and Hageman factor dependent pathways

The relationship between bronchial asthma and Hageman factor dependent pathways (the contact phase of the internal coagulation system) was studied in reference to the possible role of the kallikrein-kinin system in asthmatics.The plasma Hageman factor level was significantly lower in asthmatics (74.8±27.7% in remission, and 75.4±26.3% during in attack) than in healthy subjects (98.1±27.6%), and the plasma prekallikrein value was also lower in asthmatics (88.8±25.3% in remission, and 75.1±23.8% during in attack) than in normal controls (105.7±19.7%). Especially, the plasma prekallikrein level was significantly lower in asthmatics during in attack than in those in remission. The plasma bradykinin level of asthmatics in remission tended to be higher (98.8±89.8pg/ml) than that of healthy subjects (47.1±29.6pg/ml). The plasma high molecular weight kininogen level was not significantly different between asthmatics and normal subjects. These results suggest that the plasma kallikrein-kinin system may play a role in the pathophysiology of bronchial asthma.