The levels of histamine and leukotriene C, (LTC,) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and the release of these mediators from BAL cells stimulated by Ca ionophore A 23187 were examined in 22 athmatic subjects. In BAL fluid, histamine was detectable in 9 (40.9%) and LTC4 was detectable in 10 (45.5%) of the 22 asthma patients. BAL cells from patients with detectable histamine (DH), many of whom were evaluated as atopic, released more histamine and less LTC4 than those of patients without DH. In

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... contrast, BAL cells from patients with detectable LTC, (DL), many of whom were assessed as nonatopic, released more LTC4 and less histamine than those of patients without DL. These results suggest that histamine and LTC4 levels differ in relation to the IgE-mediated allergic reaction.