Abstract
Basophil reactivity to anti-IgE and house dust extract was examined in 69 patients with bronchial asthma by measuring the amount of histamine release.
1. Histamine release by anti-IgE varied widely in the cases with a RAST score from 0+ to 1+ and low serum IgE levels. Basophil reactivity to anti-IgE in the cases with a RAST score of 2+ tended to increase as serum IgE levels increased, although there was no significant correlation between them. The cases with a RAST score of 3+ generally showed a high reactivity to anti-IgE regardless of serum IgE levels.
2. There was no positive correlation between histamine release by house dust extract and serum IgE levels.
3. Histamine release by anti-IgE was similar to that by house dust extract in the cases with a RAST score of 2+ and 3+.
