Annals of allergy
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Comparative Study
Histamine release test in comparison to standard tests in diagnosis of childhood allergic asthma.
An allergen-specific histamine release test (HR) was investigated in 93 children with a history of extrinsic asthma and suspected allergy to house dust mite or fungi. For both allergy groups the correlations between HR and the bronchial provocation test were better than those between the inhalation test and prick test or RAST. It is concluded that, especially in childhood where performance of a bronchial provocation should be avoided because of its potential risk and required hospitalization, the HR test can represent a significant diagnostic aid.
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After preoperative intubation and administration of intravenous cefuroxime, a 48-year-old white female developed anaphylactic shock that was refractory to the usual therapeutic measures but was responsive to treatment with intravenous cimetidine. Beta-lactam sensitivity was subsequently confirmed by skin testing. Cimetidine, which antagonizes arterial H2 receptors, may be useful in the treatment of anaphylaxis refractory to the usual resuscitative measures.
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The role of a documented allergic profile as a risk factor for radiographic contrast media reaction.
To determine the relevance of a documented allergic profile as a predisposing factor in radiographic contrast media (RCM) reaction, we investigated its incidence among 100 subjects who underwent RCM studies. Fifty of these subjects reacted to RCM (reactors) and 50 were non-reactors (controls). ⋯ Fifty-six percent of reactors and 24% of controls had positive skin test (P less than .005). These data suggest that allergic individuals are at twice the risk for developing adverse RCM reaction as compared with non-atopic subjects.