Elevated CSF histamine levels in multiple sclerosis patients.

Authors :: Kallweit U
Aritake K
Bassetti CL
Blumenthal S
Hayaishi O
Linnebank M
Baumann CR
Urade Y
Source :: Fluids and barriers of the CNS [Fluids Barriers CNS] 2013 May 09; Vol. 10, pp. 19. Date of Electronic Publication: 2013 May 09 (Print Publication: 2013).
Publication Year :: 2013
Abstract: Background: Histamine is an ubiquitous inflammatory mediator of numerous physiological processes. Histamine and its receptors have been implicated in multiple sclerosis (MS) disease pathogenesis. We prospectively enrolled 36 MS patients and 19 age and gender-matched healthy volunteers for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) histamine analysis.<br />Findings: CSF HISTAMINE LEVELS IN MS PATIENT SAMPLES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER (MEDIAN: 35.6 pg/ml) than in controls (median: 5.5 pg/ml; Beta = 0.525, p < 0.001). In addition, histamine increased with age (Pearson's correlation, p < 0.003).<br />Conclusions: Histamine may be an important factor for both the initiation and maintenance of chronic inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system. Our observation encourages a deeper investigation of the role of histamine in MS.