| Abstract: | In a study of the effect of intravenous anesthetics on plasma histamine levels, propofol and methohexital were administered to patients. Histamine determination was performed using an improved fluometric method specific for imidazole derivatives. As a primary step, the plasma histamine concentration was determined in 60 healthy, fasting probands and used as a comparative value. The mean value obtained from 60 examinations was 0.38 +/- 0.12 ng/ml, the median value was 0.37 ng/ml (Table 1). The next step consisted in determination of plasma histamine values in 20 patients 1 h following premedication with fentanyl. In this group, the mean value was 0.33 +/- 0.11 ng/ml, the median value 0.316 ng/ml (Table 2). In another 20 patients the plasma histamine concentration was determined 1 h following intramuscular injection of 1.4 microgram fentanyl +0.07 mg/kg droperidol (Thalamonal). In this group, the mean value was 0.373 +/- 0.11 ng/ml and the median value was 0.736 ng/ml. Subsequently, the effect of 2.5 mg/kg propofol (Disoprivan) or 1 mg/kg methohexital (Brevimytal) on plasma histamine levels was examined in a randomized, prospective study in 22 patients of ASA class I and II (Table 3, Fig. 2). Two minutes prior to injection of the test substances and 2, 4, 8, and 13 min following injection, plasma histamine levels, blood pressure, and heart rate were examined. In both groups, no changes in plasma histamine levels were observed during the period of examination. Comparison of the individual time columns within a group as well as intergroup comparisons revealed no statistically significant differences in either the t test or the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney U test.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) |
