Asthmatic Deaths

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Abstract
The number of mast cells in the bronchial walls of patients who died of asthma was compared to that in walls of nonasthmatic patients. Mast cells are normal components of bronchial wall and contain chemical mediators which can cause changes in bronchial muscle tone and glandular secretion. Physiological amounts of mediator released by normal stimuli may constitute a local homeostatic mechanism for control of some bronchial functions. Unphysiological quantities released by abnormal stimuli could cause bronchospasm, secretion, and edema leading to obstruction typical of that found in asthma. Degranulated mast cells cannot be identified in tissue sections. There were fewer mast cells in bronchi of patients who died of asthma than in those of nonasthmatic patients, which suggests that marked degranulation of mast cells occurred, and is one mechanism associated with the pathophysiology of asthma.