Allergy to formaldehyde: basophil histamine-release test is useful for diagnosis.
We describe a case of formaldehyde-induced urticaria with a positive test result for serum IgE antibody against this substance. Formaldehyde's slow protein-binding property may explain why basophil histamine-release tests using fresh formaldehyde solutions are not diagnostic, whereas the tests are useful if formaldehyde that had been stored with albumin is used.
Division of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Department of Medicine, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Yusuke
Y
Tanaka
Yuko
Y
Nakase
Masao
M
Yamaguchi
Naoya
N
Sugimoto
Kenshin
K
Ohara
Hiroyuki
H
Nagase
Ken
K
Ohta
D000328:Adult; D000418:Albumins / Q000276:immunology; D015549:Basophil Degranulation Test / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005404:Fixatives / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood
D000418:Albumins; D005404:Fixatives; D005557:Formaldehyde; D007073:Immunoglobulin E