Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia: Evidence for Basophil Differentiation and Histamine Synthesis from Cultured Peripheral Blood Cells

We have attempted to assess basophil differentiation in vitro in 15 patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). Using a sensitive radioassay, whole blood histamine values were found to be elevated in 10 of 14 patients tested, and correlated well with peripheral blood basophil counts (r=¿70). In seven of nine CML patients, but not in controls, total histamine content of separated peripheral blood cells suspended in a modified Marbrook system …