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Evaluation of the human basophil degranulation test using the commercially available Baso‐kit as a test of immediate‐type hypersensitivity in hay‐fever sufferers

1984; Wiley; Volume: 14; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/j.1365-2222.1984.tb02245.x

1365-2222

A.C. Yeung Laiwah, K R Patel, A. K. Seenan, Elizabeth Galloway, W. J. McCulloch,

Contact Dermatitis and Allergies

Summary The basophil degranulation test (BDT) has failed to gain popular acceptance as a test of immediate‐type hypersensitivity since its introduction in clinical medicine in 1961. Recent modification of this technique, however, seemed to have increased its reliability. We have studied a group of twenty‐five hay‐fever sufferers and a similar age‐and sex‐matched group of healthy controls to compare the sensitivity of a newly available commercial BDT kit (Baso‐kit, Laboratoire des Stallergenes) with specific serum IgE levels and skin‐prick tests to meadow‐grass pollen. A quantitative correlation was found between the positive BDT (> 30% degranulation) and the skin tests, whereas only a qualitative relationship was obtained with specific IgE concentrations. The BDT also identified two subpopulations of responders and non‐responders among a third group of hay‐fever subjects who had previously been hyposensitized to mixed grass pollen. We conclude that the modified BDT provides a worthwhile addition to the in vitro testing of immediate‐type hypersensitivity states.