Bronchial hyper-reactivity in atopic patients during H2-receptor blocker treatment.

Bronchial reactivity after Cimetidine treatment was evaluated by the histamine provocation test in 24 patients with atopic bronchial asthma and 10 patients with peptic ulcer. Anti-IgE induced histamine release from isolated basophils was also investigated. After blockade of H2 receptors, an increase of bronchial reactivity and an exacerbation of clinical symptoms were observed in 4 asthmatic patients [17%].

Arginine esterase activity of the plasma in different types of bronchial asthma.

Spontaneous arginine esterase activity and esterolytic activity of plasma after a contact with kaolin, using a synthetic substrate BAEE in asthmatic patients were studied. Also activity of esterase inhibitors, the plasma kininogen level and fibrinolytic activity were determined. It was shown, that during an asthma attack a significant rise in the plasma esterolytic activity occurred.

Anaphylactic histamine release during inhibition of the proteolytic and kinin-forming system in experimental animals.

The experiments were carried out on immunized guinea-pigs. Histamine concentration in the blood and the lung tissue, the plasma prekallikrein and kininogen levels, kininase and fibrinolytic activity were determined. The examinations were made before antigen challenge, during anaphylactic reaction and after pharmacological inhibition of proteolysis.

Histamine level in the blood and in the lung tissue during anaphylactic reaction in guinea-pigs treated with hydrocortisone and sodium cromoglycate.

The effect of hydrocortisone and disodium cromoglycate (Intal) on histamine release during immediate allergic reaction in experimental animals was studied. Histamine level in the blood and lung tissue was determined before antigen challenge during experimental asthma and after administration of hydrocortisone or Intal. The investigations revealed some differences in the histamine content in the blood and lung tissue depending on the time of the drug administration in relation to the antigen challenge and to the period of treatment.