title: Effects of systemic corticosteroids on cutaneous histamine secretion and histamine-releasing factor in patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Enhanced skin mast cell releasability of histamine, increased production of histamine releasing factor (HRF), and cutaneous inflammatory process are the hallmarks of chronic idiopathic urticaria (CU). Although H1-antihistamines are known to alleviate the symptoms effectively in most cases, systemic corticosteroids (CS) are given in more resistant patients. Their mode of action remains a matter of controversy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, the effects of a 7-day course of CS or placebo on histamine content and HRF production in non-lesional skin of 19 CU patients were examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the skin chamber technique, HRF production and histamine content were assessed in normal-appearing skin of patients with CU over a 2-h observation period. Those two parameters were measured before and after treatment, in a double-blind fashion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant changes occurred in any parameters after placebo treatment. In contrast with this, significant decrease of HRF activity was observed after 1 week of oral methylprednisolone while no change was documented for histamine secretion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that CS therapy improves symptoms of CU in association with a decreased production of HRF in uninvolved skin.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche en Immunologie-Rhumatologie, Le Centre Hospitalier de l'Université Laval, Sainte-Foy, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Paradis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lavoie
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brunet
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Bédard
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hébert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006632:Histamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D000090324:Tumor Protein, Translationally-Controlled 1; D014581:Urticaria / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008222:Lymphokines; D000090324:Tumor Protein, Translationally-Controlled 1; D006632:Histamine; D008775:Methylprednisolone