Circadian immunologic rhythms and their implications in the diagnosis and treatment of atopic disorders

Rhythms have been reported in atopic individuals with regards to skin response to aeroallergens and histamine, pulmonary functions and symptoms. This study is to further investigate rhythms which occur in atopic individuals and their implication for diagnosis and treatment. Seventeen males were studied at 4-hr intervals over a 24-hr period in order to study serum IgE levels, skin test response to ragweed, pulmonary peak flow rates, RAST to ragweed, eosinophil counts and leucocyte histamine release levels. Significant 24-hr rhythms were observed in atopic and non-atopic individuals for the variables of oral temperature, peak flow rate, respiration, leucocytes, eosinophils, hematocrit, histamine skin response and leucocyte histamine release. Serum IgE levels and RAST for antigen E were noted to have probably significant circadian rhythmicity in healthy subjects. When comparing non-atopic with atopic individuals, significant differences in some mesors (rhythm-adjusted 24-hr means) were noted.