Histamine in relation to epidemic dropsy glaucoma

Abstract

In 23 cases of epidemic dropsy glaucoma and 17 normal control subjects, histamine levels of both plasma and blood cells and histamine skin sensitivity were measured. It was observed that there was no significant difference in the skin sensitivity to histamine between patients with epidemic dropsy glaucoma and normal subjects, whereas the histamine levels of both plasma and blood cells were significantly higher in patients with epidemic dropsy glaucoma. It is quite probable that the causative factor of glaucoma in these cases is the increased quantity of aqueous formation due to higher concentration of histamine in the blood.