[Reactivity of pulmonary mast cells and peripheral blood basophils in patients with sarcoidosis and bronchial asthma].

We have studied the sensitivity of pulmonary mast cells and blood basophils in patients with sarcoidosis and bronchial asthma. The cells were induced in vitro with anti-IgE. The histamine releasing from mast cells and basophils was high in both examined groups of patients. The histamine releasing from mast cells in patients with sarcoidosis was 27.8-47.1% and in asthmatic patients 42.8-58.9%. The histamine releasing from basophils was 38.2-57.9% and 41.0-62.1%, respectively. The high sensitivity of mast cells of patients with sarcoidosis may suggest that these cells play an essential role in pathology of this disease.