[Cardiovascular reactions and histamine release following atracurium--a problem of dosage?]

All muscle relaxants can induce allergic or pseudo-allergic reactions. The medium-long-acting, nondepolarizing muscle relaxant atracurium has been shown to be a potent histamine liberator. Up to now it is unknown if a clinical dosage of atracurium exists where no clinically relevant histamine release occurs. In a prospectively controlled study we therefore investigated the effects of different dosages of atracurium on cardiovascular reactions and histamine release.