Decrease of basal plasma histamine levels by application of atropine in man

The influence of atropine sulfate on plasma histamine levels was studied in 28 oral surgery patients with no history of allergy. 11 patients were given atropine sulfate for premedication (atropine group), and 17 patients were not (non-atropine group). The measurement of histamine in blood plasma was made using high speed liquid chromatography which was available for quantifying the trace elements. The concentration of histamine of the atropine group was 0.32 +/- 0.17 ng.ml-1 and that of the non-atropine group was 0.68 +/- 0.20 ng.ml-1, showing that atropine sulfate can suppress the release of histamine into human blood.