STUDIES ON BLOOD HISTAMINE IN PATIENTS WITH ALLERGY. II. ALTERATIONS IN THE BLOOD HISTAMINE IN PATIENTS WITH ALLERGIC DISEASE 1

Abstract

The histamine content of the blood of 80 patients with various forms of allergic disease has been studied using the Code method. With the exception of cases of urticaria, there is much more fluctuation of the histamine content of the blood of patients with allergic disease, as compared to the marked stability of that of normal persons. In cases of asthma, eczema or vaso motor rhinitis, these fluctuations are not necessarily correlated with the onset of symptoms. A marked diminution of the blood histamine occurs however with the development of angio-neurotic edema. The blood histamine level returns to normal as the symptoms subside. These findings are not considered as evidence that histamine may be released in the types of allergic disease studied.