Bradykinin and asthma.

Many mediators have been implicated in the pathophysiology of asthma'2 but the role of individual mediators will become apparent only with the use of potent and selective antagonists or synthesis of inhibitors, which are now becoming available for many mediators.Bradykinin has long been con- sidered to be a mediator concerned in asthma, since the first demonstration of bronchocon- striction after inhaled bradykinin in asthmatic patients.3The recent development of potent bradykinin receptor antagonists' has raised questions about the role of bradykinin in the pathophysiology of asthma and the potential of bradykinin antagonists in the treatment of asthma.