Effect of disodium cromoglycate on anti-IgE induced early and late skin response in humans.

The effect of the anti-allergic drug disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) on immediate and late responses to anti-human IgE was examined in thirteen healthy subjects. DSCG, 250 micrograms, applied intradermally together with anti-IgE had no effect on the immediate flare and weal response, whereas the following late phase response, 1-24 hr, was attenuated by 15% (P less than 0.05, at 6 hr P less than 0.01). This effect varied between individuals (P less than 0.01) and was reproduced in a second trial in DSCG-responders and non-responders (P less than 0.01, n = 8). The results support the view that DSCG has no effect on the immediate mast cell derived response in human skin but can inhibit the development of late reactions. This mechanism might account for some of the anti-allergic effects of the drug.