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Vincent Falanga, MD; Nicholas A. Soter, MD; Roy D. Altman, MD; Francisco A. Kerdel, MD

Arch Dermatol. 1990;126(3):336-338.

Abstract
• Systemic sclerosis is characterized by excessive deposition of collagen and other matrix proteins in the skin and internal organs. One hypothesis supports fibroblast stimulation for production of excess amounts of collagen by factors present in the blood or released by cells composing inflammatory tissue infiltrates. Increased numbers of mast cells are present in the involved skin of patients with systemic sclerosis, and histamine has been thought to be a possible mediator of fibrosis in this and other fibrotic conditions. We therefore measured plasma histamine levels in 32 patients with systemic sclerosis and found elevated levels in 18 patients (56%). Elevated plasma histamine levels were more common in patients with diffuse disease (74%), in contrast to limited disease (31%). The degree of clinical activity and the duration of disease could not be correlated with histamine levels.

(Arch Dermatol. 1990;126:336-338)

Author Affiliations
From the Departments of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery (Drs Falanga and Kerdel) and Medicine (Dr Altman), University of Miami (Fla); and the Department of Dermatology (Dr Soter), New York (NY) University.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication August 15, 1989.

Reprint requests to Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, PO Box 016250 (R-250), Miami, FL 33101 (Dr Falanga).

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