Granulocytes and mononuclear cells were isolated from the blood of asthmatic and healthy children. Stimulation with ionophore A 23187 induced a significantly higher leukotriene C4 (LTC4) generation from granulocytes of asthmatic children than from granulocytes of healthy controls. In contrast, mononuclear cells from patients and controls did not differ in their ability to produce LTC4. Additional analysis showed that the difference in LTC4 generation of granulocytes was due to increased formation but not to decreased oxidative degradation of LTC4. Analysis of LTC4 generation of purified neutrophils and eosinophils revealed that LTC4 was generated almost exclusively by eosinophils and, in particular, the hypodense population. Granulocytes from patients with a history of severe asthma displayed a higher LTC4 formation than granulocytes from patients with less severe disease.