[A familial case of metabisulfite intolerance. Clinical and pharmacological study].

Within a context of a familial case of severe respiratory signs, with intolerance of sulfites and aspirin, we decided to study the clinical reliability of "in vitro" activation of human basophils in the presence of sulfites. Positivity of these tests for the three patients in the study (60, 73, and 66%) is confirmed by passive sensitization of donor basophils, which was destroyed when the serum was heated. This argument in favour of IgE dependence was strengthened by observation of an "in vitro" desensitization by an anti-IgE and not by an anti-IgG. These "in vitro" data are in agreement with the clinical history, daily routine of the patient, skin tests and where done, oral provocation tests.