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The ability of basophils and tissue mastocytes activated by sensitised IgE antibodies to release mediators in the presence of the specific antigen underlies immediate hypersensitivity reactions. This phenomenon can be explored by the in vitro basophil degranulation test adopted not only in experimental pathology, but in human allergological pathology and in the study of post-streptococcal and lupus glomerulonephritis. The test has been carried out to analyse sensitisation to iodate contrast media in 71 patients already submitted to contrastography, 37 of whom had given evidence of allergic reactions. All patients with a previous history of sensitisation presented, in vitro, a positive reaction (56 + 15.3% degranulation) in the presence of the contrast medium. Against this, none of the patients with negative test presented an allergic reaction during contrastography. Stress is laid on the practical importance of the test prior to performance of contrastography so as to predict possible sensitisation and select the most suitable medium.

The authors outline the immunological and immunogenetic bases of atopy, as well as the radioimmunological techniques employed in the allergological diagnosis and purification as well as standardization of the allergens. The latest trends of the allergological immunotherapy are examined, covering fundamentally two wide fields: the possibility to elicit an aspecific immunological tolerance (soluble suppressor substances of IgE response; Asp-Ser-Asp-Pro-arg pentapeptide, D-GL copolimer conjugated aptens) or the specific induction of "suppressor" mechanisms (allergoids, modified allergens). The preliminary results obtained on sera of patients with a symptomatology highly indicative of penicillin allergy, employing RAST Penicilloil G and Penicilloil V, are also reported.