SPONTANEOUS HISTAMINE-RELEASE IN WHOLE-BLOOD IN PATIENTS BEFORE AND AFTER 4 MONTHS OF SPECIFIC IMMUNOTHERAPY

Spontaneous histamine release (SHR) in whole blood was assessed before and after 4 months of specific immunotherapy (SIT) for allergic rhino conjunctivitis in 32 patients. Spontaneous histamine release was signi ficantly enhanced (P < 0.05) in patients prior to immunotherapy compar ed with 20 controls. Spontaneous histamine release decreased significa ntly in patients after 4 months of specific immunotherapy (P < 0.04) a nd almost reached the same values as spontaneous histamine release in controls. Clinical success of treatment after 4 months was seen in 15 patients (improvement greater than or equal to 50%), 10 of whom showed a significant decrease in spontaneous histamine release. Decrease of spontaneous histamine release after 4 months indicates the efficacy of specific immunotherapy already at an early stage of treatment. Assess ment of spontaneous histamine release appears to be a useful and easil y performable method for monitoring success of treatment of patients d uring specific immunotherapy.