[Plasma histamine levels in man following infusion of hydroxyethyl starch: a contribution to the question of allergic or anaphylactoid reactions following administration of a new plasma substitute (author's transl)].

In contrast to the effects of rapid infusion of gelatin and dextran preparations, no histamine release was observed in 10 human subjects (volunteers) following rapid infusion of hydroxyethyl starch. This was measured by fluorometric histamine determination in venous plasma. Furthermore no clinical symptoms of an allergic or anaphylactoid reaction could be detected in any of the volunteers.