[Changes in content of biologically active amines in plasma and blood cells in bronchial asthma]

We studied concentration of histamine (Hs), serotonin (St) and catecholamines (CA) in the cells and plasma of venous and capillary blood of 466 patients with bronchial asthma (BA) and 40 controls free of BA. It was found that blood cells sorb, secret Hs, St and CA and participate in exchange of Hs, St and CA between tissues and blood. Contents of Hs, St and CA in BA patients is increased but CA decreased in the cells and plasma of capillary blood. Such distribution between Hs and CA can be explained by changed activity of histidindecarboxilase necessary for histamine synthesis. Capillarovenous difference by Hs, St and CA detected in the control group was also found in BA, being more pronounced in exogenic BA. It is suggested that BA patients have disturbed tissue-blood barrier and systemic alterations of synthesis and utilization of biogenic amines in blood of BA patients.