IS THE HISTAMINE SKIN-TEST INHIBITED BY PREDNISONE

Background: A clinical trial was carried out to determine whether ther apeutic doses of prednisone could inhibit the response to the histamin e skin test. Methods: Forty-five male and female asthmatic and allergi c patients participated in the study, their ages ranged from 6-14 year s old (16 girls and 29 boys). The clinical trial was random, double-bl ind, and placebo-controlled. Methods: Three treatment groups were form ed and patients were assigned randomly to them, Groups A and B receive d prednisone at 0.5 and 1 mg/kg/day, respectively, whereas group C rec eived a placebo (p.o.). All treatments lasted for 10 days. The histami ne test was applied on the first, fifth and tenth days of treatment, a nd the size of the wheal and the extension of the flare were evaluated 5 min after the application of the test. The statistical tool used wa s ANOVA, since the study sought to see the difference among the treatm ent groups, after including 45 patients in three groups of 15 patients each. Results: No significant statistical difference was observed amo ng the groups using an ANOVA test. Conclusions: It was concluded that the response to the histamine test was not modified by a 10-day treatm ent with prednisone at doses of 0.5 mg/kg/day and 1 mg/kg/day.