Cold urticaria. Dissociation of cold-evoked histamine release and urticara following cold challenge

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Nine patients with acquired cold urticaria were studied to assess the effects of .beta.-adrenergic agents, xanthines and corticosteroids on cold-evoked histamine release from skin in vivo. The patients, in all of whom an immediate urticarial response developed after cooling of the forearm, demonstrated release of histamine into the venous blood draining that forearm. Following treatment with aminophylline and albuterol in combination or prednisone alone, suppression of histamine release occurred in all but 1 patient. In some patients, this was accompanied by a subjective diminution in pruritus or burning, but there was no significant improvement in the ensuing edema or erythema. In 1 patient, total suppression of histamine release was achieved without any effect on whealing and erythema in response to cold challenge. Histamine is evidently not central to the pathogenesis of vascular changes in acquired cold urticaria.