Premenstrual syndrome and atopy: a double-blind clinical evaluation of treatment with a gamma-globulin/histamine complex.
The relationship between atopy and premenstrual syndrome was studied in 138 women, aged between 20 and 39-years' old, who had suffered from symptoms for at least 6 months. The results showed that there was a high incidence of a personal or familial history of allergy, immediate positive skin test reactions to conventional allergens, eosinophilia, low titre of histamine latex test and high levels of IgE in the premenstrual syndrome patients compared with the normal controls. A preliminary study in 40 patients showed that a course of treatment using a gamma-globulin/histamine complex by subcutaneous injection produced a satisfactory response in 70%. A follow-on double-blind, placebo-controlled study was carried out using the same drug in 42 out of 86 women. Very effective or effective symptomatic relief was significantly higher in the group receiving active treatment. The best results were obtained in patients who had high IgE levels.