Mediators of Immediate Hypersensitivity Reactions

Abstract

PATIENTS with immediate hypersensitivity reactions are commonly encountered by physicians in both primary care and various specialty practices. Such patients present a broad spectrum of illnesses, ranging in severity from mild urticaria or seasonal rhinitis to fatal anaphylactic shock. For many years the pathophysiology of these illnesses has been known to involve the release of inflammatory mediators by mast cells and basophils. Over the past 10 years, considerable progress has been made in elucidating the structure and function of these mediators. Thus, many of the signs and symptoms of allergic responses in humans can now be attributed to specific mast-cell . . .