In vitro stimulation of lymphocytes in patients with chronic urticaria induced by additives and food.
We studied the stimulation of lymphocytes in 258 patients with urticaria and/or angioedema using a series of food extracts and additives. Of this group, 238 revealed a positive response index (RI). There was a positive RI to additives in 18.4% of the cases, to food extracts in 35.2% and to both extracts and additives in 46.6% of the cases. A positive RI to both aspirin and tartrazine was revealed in 25% and to all the additives tested in 11% of the cases. Diets from which food extracts and additives were excluded achieved total remission in 159 (61.1%), partial remission in fifty-seven cases (22%) and no remission in forty-two (16.2).
D000799:Angioedema / Q000209:etiology; D000818:Animals; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects; D002417:Cattle; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005503:Food Additives / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates / Q000009:adverse effects; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk / Q000009:adverse effects; D013645:Tartrazine / Q000009:adverse effects; D014581:Urticaria / Q000209:etiology*
D005503:Food Additives; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates; D013645:Tartrazine; D001241:Aspirin