Plasmapheresis for severe, unremitting, chronic urticaria.

Abstract

Histamine-releasing autoantibodies have been identified in chronic idiopathic urticaria. 8 patients with severe disease and histamine-releasing activity in their sera underwent plasmapheresis. Symptoms were abolished for 2 months in 1 patient and for 3 weeks in another, 2 showed almost complete resolution of symptoms, 2 had temporary relief, and the other 2 showed little change. Further investigation in 4 of the patients showed significantly reduced skin-test responses to fresh post-exchange autologous sera after plasmapheresis compared with stored pre-exchange sera, but the response to intradermal histamine remained unchanged. Blood cellular histamine increased as in-vitro serum histamine-releasing activity fell after plasmapheresis. These results favour a pathogenetic role for histamine-releasing autoantibodies in patients with chronic urticaria.

• Authors: C E Grattan, D M Francis, N G Slater, R J Barlow, M W Greaves
• Journal: Lancet (London, England) (Lancet) Vol. 339 Issue 8801 Pg. 1078-80 (May 02 1992) ISSN: 0140-6736 [Print] England
• PMID: 1373787 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Autoantibodies
• Histamine

Topics

• Adult
• Autoantibodies (metabolism)
• Female
• Histamine (blood)
• Histamine Release
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Plasmapheresis
• Urticaria (metabolism, therapy)