PLASMA-LEVEL OF HISTAMINE IN ASPIRIN-SENSITIVE URTICARIA

Abstract

Twelve patients with a history of aspirin-induced urticaria and/or angiodema were studied before and after the provocation of symptoms with aspirin. The resting plasma histamine levels in these patients (0.95 .+-. 0.25 ng/mL) were significantly higher than in 30 control subjects (0.21 .+-. 0.06 ng/mL) (P<.01). The plasma histamine levels fell significantly at the time of adverse reactions to aspirin (P<.01). The high resting histamine levels, like the high venous prostaglandin F2.alpha. levels that we have previously reported in the same group of patients and the high plasma histamine levels we have found in aspirin-sensitive asthmatics suggest an abnormality of mediator release in aspirin-sensitive patients.