Basophil histamine release in children with adverse reactions to cow milk

Basophil histamine release was examined in 26 children suspected of having cow milk allergy (CMA). Following oral challenge with cow milk, the initial adverse reaction reappeared in 20 children, the majority developing urticaria. The urticaria patients showed a high degree of correlation between the results of histamine test, RAST and skin test. Children with gastrointestinal symptoms reacted to milk challenge, but only a few showed a positive histamine test, RAST and skin test. Among the patients with atopic dermatitis, the tests gave mostly negative results, which was in accordance with the lack of response to a milk challenge. The results obtained by removal from and fixation to the cell surface of IgE indicate an IgE-mediated reaction in CMA, which, in connection with the correlation between histamine test and RAST or skin test, suggests basophil histamine release as a suitable method for testing Type I allergy in children suspected of CMA.