Is the histamine skin test inhibited by prednisone?
BACKGROUND
A clinical trial was carried out to determine whether therapeutic doses of prednisone could inhibit the response to the histamine skin test.


METHODS
Forty-five male and female asthmatic and allergic patients participated in the study, their ages ranged from 6-14 years old (16 girls and 29 boys). The clinical trial was random, double-blind, and placebo-controlled.


METHODS
Three treatment groups were formed and patients were assigned randomly to them. Groups A and B received prednisone at 0.5 and 1 mg/kg/day, respectively, whereas group C received a placebo (p.o.). All treatments lasted for 10 days. The histamine test was applied on the first, fifth and tenth days of treatment, and the size of the wheal and the extension of the flare were evaluated 5 min after the application of the test. The statistical tool used was ANOVA, since the study sought to see the difference among the treatment groups, after including 45 patients in three groups of 15 patients each.


RESULTS
No significant statistical difference was observed among the groups using an ANOVA test.


CONCLUSIONS
It was concluded that the response to the histamine test was not modified by a 10-day treatment with prednisone at doses of 0.5 mg/kg/day and 1 mg/kg/day.
López-Campos
C
C
Departamento de Inmunoalérgias, Hospital de Especialidades No. 71, Centro Médico Nacional de Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico.
Rincón-Castañeda
C B
CB
Cano-Ríos
P
P
Martínez-Ordaz
V A
VA
Velasco-Rodríguez
V M
VM
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006636:Histamine Release; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011241:Prednisone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012882:Skin Tests
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011241:Prednisone