[Skin tests for 48/80 and histamine]

The variability in time of the cutaneous response, resulting from morbid and specially from therapeutic physiological interferences, restrains the credibility of cutaneous allergological investigations. The authors present the first results, established on control population considered as normal, of an approach to cutaneous reactivity by means of a non-specific histamine liberation, induced by a tween: 48/80 coupled with appreciation of the reactivity to histamine injected by the intra-dermal route. The study objectively demonstrates the variability in the response in terms of the doses injected, age, and especially in terms of drug interferences which usually, go in the direction of a hyporeactivity. On the contrary, hyper-reactivity is frequently observed in certain morbid conditions, in particular in spasmophilia. In conclusion, before including the 48/80 and histamine tests in the battery of allergological investigations, it seems indispensable to specify the limits in normal subjects and to better aprehend interferences which modify its expression.