Histidine metabolism in toxaemia of pregnancy. Isolation of histamine from the urine of patients with toxaemia of pregnancy

Abstract

A chemical method is descr. for isolation of histamine from the urine. 6 attempts were made to isolate histamine from the urine of [female] with various manifestations of toxemia of pregnancy. Whereas in the 1st 2 expts. only fractions of a rag. of histamine diflavianate were isolated, in expt. 3, 32 L. of urine of 2 [female][female] with very severe toxemia yielded 2.7 mg. of histamine dipicrate, identified by melting point. mixed melting point, the Zimmermann reaction and an X-ray-photograph. In expt. 4, 3000 ml. of urine of a [female] with severe hyperemesis gravidarum gave 10.9 mg. histamine diflavianate identified by a micro analysis. In expt. 5, 7700 ml. of urine of a patient with severe hyperemesis gravidarum, yielded 34.6 rag. histamine diflavianate, identified by melting point, mixed melting point and biological tests on the guinea pig''s ileum and rat''s uterus. In the 6th exptl. 8500 ml. of urine of a [female] suffering from severe pre-eclamptic toxemia yielded 62.5 mg. histamine diflavianate, identified by mixed melting point, combustion and biological tests on the guinea pig''s ileum and uterus. From 39 L. of normal pregnancy urine the same method yielded no detectable quantity of histamine. The origin of histamine and the factors responsible for its occurrence in toxemia of pregnancy are discussed.