[Leukocyte histamine liberation tests for the diagnosis of anaphylactic reaction to curare-like agents].

Anaphylaxis to myorelaxants is the main etiology of adverse reactions to anesthetics and adjuvants. The diagnosis relies on skin tests--prick or intradermal tests--radio-immunoassays for series specific IgE, human basophil degranulation tests and leucocyte histamine++ release. 28 patients with an anaphylaxis to myorelaxants have been studied, using the two tests. Skin tests are the more specific and accurate ones. ARIA using a quaternary ammonium hydrated gel, is highly specific and its sensitivity reaches 80%. The leucocyte histamine release may be interest in evaluating anaphylaxis especially when another drug might be involved. The sensitivity of HBDT is low, indicating that HBDT is to be discarded as far as other tests have been developed, for myorelaxants. However, its usefulness for other drugs has to be compared to leucocyte histamine release.