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Histamine in carcinoid syndrome.
J Gustafsen1, S Boesby, W K Man
1Department of Surgical Gastroenterology C, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Agents and Actions
|August 1, 1988
Summary
Histamine may cause flushing in patients with mid-gut carcinoid syndrome. This study found elevated plasma histamine levels in patients with ileal carcinoid tumors, suggesting histamine
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Oncology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Carcinoid flushing etiology is unclear, potentially involving humoral substances.
- Fore-gut carcinoids linked to histamine; mid-gut carcinoids to serotonin, bradykinin, etc.
Purpose of the Study:
- Evaluate histamine's role in flushing for mid-gut carcinoid syndrome patients.
- Measure plasma histamine in ileal carcinoid patients with carcinoid syndrome.
Main Methods:
- Enzymatic isotopic assay used for plasma histamine measurement.
- Study included 8 patients with mid-gut carcinoids and carcinoid syndrome.
Main Results:
- All 8 patients exhibited elevated plasma histamine levels.
- Suggests histamine is a potential mediator of flushing in these patients.
Conclusions:
- Histamine is implicated as a vasoactive substance in mid-gut carcinoid syndrome.
- Further research may clarify histamine's precise role in carcinoid flushing.