"In vitro" basophil degranulation by polymyxin B in asthmatic patients.

Polymyxin B is a potent mast cell degranulator. Inhalation of polymyxin B produces bronchoconstriction in atopic asthmatic patients. The study was undertaken to find the influence of polymyxin B on human basophils. Thirty atopic asthmatic patients and 10 healthy controls participated in the study. Preparation and counting of basophils taken from the whole venous blood was performed with the human basophils degranulation test (method by Benveniste). No significant degranulation was observed in the group of healthy subjects. Degranulation of basophils by polymyxin B was stated in 24 from 30 atopic asthmatic patients with dose-reaction dependency. Our results point out, that there exists "basophil releasability" to polymyxin B in atopic asthmatic patients.