Kinins — Possible Physiologic and Pathologic Roles in Man

Pathophysiology in Specific Pathologic StatesIn the initial report describing bradykinin activity,2 it was proposed that this substance might have a pathogenic function in shock because of its hypotensive properties. Subsequently, kinins have been implicated in pancreatitis, the toxemia of burns, asthma, pulmonary edema, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, foreign-body granuloma, hereditary angioneurotic edema, carcinoid syndrome, certain types of blood-transfusion reactions and wasp stings. Although the role of the kinins in these diseases is not clearly defined, or in some cases even disputed, sufficient data have been collected to indicate that kinins may be active in several pathologic processes.PancreatitisThe . . .