Histamine in pericarditis of children with congenital heart malformations.

Introduction: Congenital heart malformations are risk factors that make children susceptible to infections resulting in inflammation.

Material And Methods: The concentration of histamine as a modulator of inflammation was quantified in pericardial fluid and expression of histamine H(4) receptor (H(4)R) and histamine-releasing factor (HRF) was determined at mRNA and protein levels. Samples of pericardium and pericardial fluid were obtained during cardiac reconstruction surgery in children.