Histamine release test in comparison to standard tests in diagnosis of childhood allergic asthma.

An allergen-specific histamine release test (HR) was investigated in 93 children with a history of extrinsic asthma and suspected allergy to house dust mite or fungi. For both allergy groups the correlations between HR and the bronchial provocation test were better than those between the inhalation test and prick test or RAST. It is concluded that, especially in childhood where performance of a bronchial provocation should be avoided because of its potential risk and required hospitalization, the HR test can represent a significant diagnostic aid.