The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Jul 2000
Serum levels of soluble IL-2 receptor, IL-12, IL-18, and IFN-gamma in patients with acute graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.
Acute graft-versus-host disease still represents the major factor that limits successful allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Cytokines released by type 1 T-helper cells are thought to play a pivotal role in acute graft-versus-host disease. ⋯ Serum levels of soluble IL-2 receptor were more closely related to the severity of acute graft-versus-host disease than those of IL-12, IL-18, and IFN-gamma.
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Jul 2000
Histamine and tryptase levels in patients with acute allergic reactions: An emergency department-based study.
Emergency department visits for acute allergic reactions are common. Although the diagnosis and classification of these allergic reactions is primarily empiric, it is not always clear whether certain signs and symptoms constitute systemic mediator release syndromes, such as anaphylaxis, and thus may warrant more aggressive therapy or follow-up. ⋯ Raised histamine and, less commonly, raised tryptase levels are observed in almost 50% of patients presenting to emergency departments with acute allergic reactions. Some cases associated with systemic mediator release do not have classical features of severe anaphylaxis, such as hypotension or tachycardia. The lack of total tryptase elevations in many patients with elevated plasma histamine levels suggests basophil involvement. The clinical utility of beta-tryptase determinations in the evaluation of acute allergic reactions needs further study.