[Effects of disodium cromoglycate on the clinical manifestations of true and pseudo food allergies in adults (author's transl)].

The effects of disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) administered orally were compared in two groups of patients: 7 patients with urticaria, angioneurotic oedema, asthma or anaphylaxis due to type I allergy to 9 foodstuffs confirmed by skin tests, human basophil degranulation tests or Prausnitz-Küstner tests, and 9 patients with chronic urticaria and digestive disorders due to non-specific histamine reactions following food absorption. DSCG in aqueous solution was given in daily doses of 300 mg increased, if necessary, to 600 or 900 mg. After one month treatment was interrupted for 15 days, then replaced by a placebo for one month. Complete remission, lasting for up to 45 days after DSCG was discontinued, was observed in 5/7 patients of the first group, but in only 1/9 patients of the second group. The drug was well tolerated by 12/16 patients. Four patients presented with allergic or digestive reactions which obliged to withdraw treatment in two.