Leukocyte histamine release in Hymenoptera-allergic patients. Correlation with skin test reactivity and changes following hyposensitization therapy

We have studied 46 Hymenoptera-allergic patients and 11 nonallergic controls by grading the severity of their sting reaction, determining their skin test reactivity, and performing human leukocyte histamine release with a commercial mixed stinging insect extract. A significant correlation was found between increasing severity of sting reaction and increasing skin test reactivity (p < 0.001). In $\text{41}\text{46}$ allergic patients from 15 to 100 per cent release of total cellular histamine occurred, whereas in the 11 nonallergic controls no greater than 10 per cent release of total cellular histamine was observed. Skin test reactivity correlated significantly with cell sensitivity in the allergic patients (p < 0.001). Following hyposensitization therapy, cell sensitivity generally did not change, but significant increases in antigen-neutralizing capacity (A.N.C.) of allergic serum did occur in $\text{11}\text{15}$ Hymenoptera-allergic patients.