Anti-IgE induced histamine release from basophils in children with atopic dermatitis

Histamine release (HR) induced by anti-lgE (1 to 10 000 ng/ml from whole-blood basophils has been evaluated in 29 children with atopic dermatitis (AD). HR was round to be reproducible and did not vary with the clinical improvement or aggravation of AD. Children with AD were found to have a higher HR than controls. Two groups of children with AD could be distinguished on the basis of histamine release. These groups did not differ with regard to age, age of onset, clinical severity, or serum lgE levels.