title: Assessment of histamine release from basophils in whole blood by benzylpenicilloyl poly-L-lysine in penicillin-sensitized patients.
abstract: Histamine release from basophil granulocytes in whole blood by benzylpenicilloyl poly-L-lysine (PPL) was investigated in 7 patients with penicillin allergy. All patients presented with systemic immediate hypersensitivity reactions after i.v. administration of penicillin G. Total histamine (of 7 patients) ranged from 27.5 ng/ml to 62.1 ng/ml (mean 43.2 ng/ml). The spontaneous histamine release ranged from 0.15% to 5.1% (mean 1.8%) of the total content. Addition of PPL in various concentrations resulted in values between 0.8 and 9.6%. Although PPL is a reliable allergen for prick- and intradermal testing in the diagnosis of penicillin allergy--demonstrating a histamine liberation in the skin--the in vitro experiment using the same allergen showed no histamine release above 10%. Using a threshold of 5% out of 7 patients, 4 (57%) would show a positive histamine release. Therefore it might indicate that in penicillin allergy a threshold of 5% must be used. In addition, basophils in whole blood and skin mast cells may be activated differently.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001491:Basophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D044482:Benzeneacetamides; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006636:Histamine Release / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010400:Penicillin G / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D010406:Penicillins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011107:Polylysine
chemical_list: D044482:Benzeneacetamides; D010406:Penicillins; D011107:Polylysine; C015026:benzylpenicilloyl G; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D010400:Penicillin G