Abstract
In order to identify a true antigen responsible for the induction of the asthmatic attack, antigen provocation tests were performed, and the correlation between the pulmonary functions and the changes in plasma lysosomal enzyme activities was obtained.
When DSCG was administered prior to the provocation, release of the lysosomal enzyme activities was significantly prevented, and the asthmatic attack was suppressed or a slight, even if induced.
The lysosomal enzyme activities were lower in the adrenal steroid hormone-dependent patients. Measurement of the plasma lysosomal enzyme activities may give pro missing methods in evaluating a true antigen in place of the pulmonary function tests, and in addition, dependency on the steroidal hormone may be judged by the present biochemical method.
When the antigen, an extract of mites, induced a positive skin test but negative provocation test, lysosomal enzymatic activities did not change significantly in a preliminary test, and the result was excluded from the present report.
