title: Plasma histamine levels following atracurium.
abstract: Plasma histamine levels were determined in 41 patients, 1.5 and 4 minutes after the intravenous administration of 0.6 mg/kg of atracurium. Clinical features of histamine release were sought at the time of blood sampling. Sixteen patients had elevation of plasma histamine 2.6 (SD 1.2) ng/ml 1.5 minutes after the injection of atracurium. Plasma histamine had returned to control levels at 4 minutes. There was a poor correlation between plasma histamine levels and the clinical manifestations observed. We conclude that atracurium has a low plasma histamine release potential and that cutaneous reactions after atracurium do not always indicate that plasma histamine levels are elevated.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001279:Atracurium; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000209:etiology; D006632:Histamine / Q000097:blood*; D006636:Histamine Release / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011674:Pulse / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007546:Isoquinolines; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents; D001279:Atracurium; D006632:Histamine