Allergic Rhinoconjunctivitis: the Role of Histamine

[摘要] Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis is the most common atopic conditionencountered in clinical practice. Analysis of the pathogenesis ofthis condition permits identification of optimal therapeutictargets. The increased knowledge of the underlying pathophysiologysuggests that multiple inflammatory mediators are involved in thepathogenesis of the allergic reaction in the ocular and nasalmucosa. However, despite the presence of a wide range of differentmediators, it would appear that histamine plays a key role.Experimental allergen challenge studies have demonstrated thathistamine is the only mediator which produces the full spectrum ofclinical manifestations of the acute allergic reaction when appliedto the mucosal surface. While both H1- and H2-receptors are presentin the nasal and ocular mucosa, only H1-receptor antagonists arecapable of inhibiting histamine-induced symptoms of allergicrhinoconjunctivitis. Furthermore, although the exact role ofhistamine in the immediate and prolonged allergic reaction has notyet been fully elucidated, these findings do not exclude thepossibility that histamine is involved in these processes. Theavailable evidence therefore supports current clinical practice foruse of H1-receptor antagonist as a first-line therapy inpatients with this atopic condition.

[学科分类] 生理学与病理学