[Blood histamine levels in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus]

Serum histamine levels are significantly lowered in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Treatment with zidovudine has no effect on histaminaemia, but HIV-positive patients with thrombocytopenic purpura who underwent splenectomy are known to have had a rise in serum histamine levels after the operation. This parameter might be used as prognostic factor in the evaluation of patients with HIV infection.