title: The plasma contact system in atopic asthma.
abstract: An in vitro test for the rate of appearance of kallikrein in plasma due to contact system activation by dextran sulfate at 0 degree C was applied to plasmas of 19 atopic asthma patients and 19 age- and sex-matched controls without atopy. The average prekallikrein activation rate was markedly higher in the plasmas of the atopic patients. Mean endogenous heparin levels were also elevated.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D003911:Dextrans / Q000494:pharmacology; D005174:Factor XII / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007610:Kallikreins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011288:Prekallikrein / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D003911:Dextrans; D005174:Factor XII; D006493:Heparin; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D011288:Prekallikrein; D007610:Kallikreins