Histologic studies of human skin test responses to ragweed and compound 48/80. II. Effects of corticosteroid therapy.

In a controlled study, a 1-week course of a moderate dosage of corticosteroids given to ragweed-sensitive subjects was associated with a statistically significant decrease in blood eosinophi, levels and tissue esosinophil, but not mast cell, responses to ragweed antibody levels or gross whealing responses to antigen or compound 48/80. While these findings suggest indirectly that a major component of the corticosteroid effect is likely an alteration of the mobilization of eosinophils to the inflammatory site, additional studies will be required to more directly characterize the mechanisms involved.