Constitutive hyperhistaminaemia: a possible mechanism for recurrent anaphylaxis

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of clinical and laboratory investigation Vol. 61; no. 6; pp. 449 - 452
• Main Authors: Hershko, A.Y, Dranitzki, Z, Ulmanski, R, Levi, F, Naparstek, Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oslo Informa UK Ltd 2001; Taylor & Francis; Scandinavian University Press
• Subjects: Allergic diseases; Anaphylaxis - blood; Anaphylaxis Clearance Histamine; Biological and medical sciences; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; General aspects; Histamine - blood; Histamine - urine; Humans; Immunopathology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Recurrence; Case study; Human; Immunopathology; Allergy; Histamine; Metabolic disorder; Relapse; Anaphylaxis; Hyperhistaminemia; Pathogenesis; Aminoacid; Clearance
• ISSN: 0036-5513; 1502-7686
• DOI: 10.1080/00365510152567086

The process underlying anaphylaxis involves an uncontrolled elevation in blood levels of mediators, including histamine. Usually, these abnormal levels are attributed to the degranulation of basophils and mast cells. Few reports have assessed the contribution of defects in histamine pharmacodynamics to allergic responses. In this report we describe a patient with recurrent anaphylaxis who was initially suspected to have enhanced histamine intolerance. We evaluated urine and blood samples collected from this patient and from control individuals using an ELISA test. Our data clearly show constitutive hyperhistaminaemia and a markedly impaired urinary histamine clearance ratio in the index patient. It is suggested that this defect facilitates anaphylaxis.