HISTAMINE-RELEASING SERUM FACTORS AS A PREDICTOR OF THE OUTCOME OF INSECT STING REACTIONS - RESULTS FROM A MULTICENTER STUDY

Cord blood cells were incubated (passively sensitized) with sera from 27 patients with previous systemic reactions to insect stings. Histami ne release (HR) from these cells was measured following exposure to ve nom extracts at increasing concentrations. The aim was to see whether this parameter could predict more efficiently than RAST and skin test the outcome of a subsequent re-sting. Results showed that HR from pass ively sensitized cells tended to reflect skin sensitivity and specific IgE levels. If patients were not re-stung during the follow-up period , HR from the passively sensitized cells frequently decreased whereas an increase was seen (in 6/13) when using sera collected after re-stin g. In conclusion HR from passively sensitized cord blood cells could n ot satisfactorily predict re-sting reactions in the serum donors.