ACTIVATION OF THE COAGULATION PATHWAY DURING ONGOING ALLERGIC CUTANEOUS REACTIONS IN HUMANS

The levels of histamine, fibrinopeptide A (FPA), and IgG were determined in chamber fluids overlying sites of antigen versus buffer incubation for up to 7 hours in seven atopic and four antigen-nonreactive subjects. Significant increases in histamine were observed at antigen versus buffer sites in the atopic subjects throughout the 7-hour period. FPA and IgG levels were higher in antigen than in buffer sites from 0 to 5 hours in the atopic subjects. Furthermore, FPA levels correlated with the magnitude of induration at 6 hours after antigen injection in atopic subjects. There were no differences in the levels of histamine, FPA, or IgG at antigen versus buffer sites in the skin test-negative subjects. We suggest that the combination of vascular leakage of proteins, induced by vasoactive mediator release, and activation of these proteins during ongoing cutaneous reactions is responsible for fibrin formation that contributes to the pathophysiology of late-phase allergic responses in the skin.