We examined serum PLA2, lipids and platelets in 133 bronchial asthma patients who had not taken any glucocorticoids. Serum PLA2 was measured by radioimmunoassay. Serum PLA2 activity in the bronchial asthma patients was 384.2 +/- 114.7 (pmol/ml/min), and in the control group (healthy subjects) it was 271.7 +/- 53.9; this is a statistically significant difference (p < 0.01). Serum PLA2 of the mixed type was higher than that of the atopic type (p < 0.05) with respect to age, those subjects in their 60s showed statistically higher serum PLA2 values than those in their 20s and 30s (p < 0.05). The serum PLA2 level was statistically higher in a patient with an attack (409.1 +/- 113.9) than without an attack (342.6 +/- 94.3) (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in lipid and platelet levels according to attack status. In conclusion, the serum PLA2 level is not only higher in asthma patients with attacks, but is also higher in asthma patients without attacks when compared to the control group. Therefore, the measurement of serum PLA2 is significant in predicting attacks.