Histamine release from blood of asthmatics

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Abstract
A group of 42 steroid-dependent perennial asthmatics was studied over a 13 wk period including the 8 wk of a double-blind controlled trial of oral sodium cromoglycate. Given at a dose of 200 mg 4 times/day, the drug provided no significant benefit to the patients when compared with results for those on placebo. Blood from 11 patients consistently failed to release > 25% of the total cellular histamine when challenged with a range of concentrations of antibody to IgE. All 6 of the cryptogenic (intrinsic) asthmatics in the trial fell within this group, together with 2/12 asthmatics with negative skin tests but suggestive clinical histories implicating common allergens, and 3/24 extrinsic asthmatics with positive skin prick tests. There was no correlation between drug usage and histamine release in response to challenge with antibody to IgE.