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Urinary leukotriene E₄ (LTE₄) is a marker of the body's production of cysteinyl LTs, important mediators of airway inflammation. The role of the latter in nocturnal asthma is a topic of increasing interest.

This investigation was aimed at determining whether nighttime attacks are associated with increased release of LTs, expressed by urinary LTE₄, and the relationship between the two phenomena.

Three groups were studied: group A, seven control subjects; group B, nine asthmatic patients without nocturnal attacks; and group C, nine asthmatic patients with a comparable daytine FEV₁ but who were experiencing nocturnal exacerbations (morning dips in peak expiratory flow >20%). Urine was collected over 24 hours in three samples (9:00 am to 3:00 pm; 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm; and 9:00 pm to 9:00 am). LTE₄ was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography and …