histamine testing

[wowzer]

I've read that histamine is a marker for methylation. For testing histamine is it better to get the 24hr urine histamine test or the serum histamine test? Is there a difference in accuracy? Is one better than the other?

 

[nanonug]

For testing histamine is it better to get the 24hr urine histamine test or the serum histamine test?

Histamine is incredibly short lived in the body. What you want to test is N-methylhistamine, which is a metabolite of histamine. This is better done with a 24-hour collection of urine. Note, however, that all collected urine needs to be kept chilled at all times, even when transporting it to the lab. Here is one such test by Quest Diagnostics: N-METHYLHISTAMINE,URINE.

I don't think ME/CFS is due to a methylation block. I am fairly convinced that ME/CFS is just undiagnosed Mast Cell Activation Disorder. If you are having problem with histamine, have a look at this thread: ME/CFS is a mast cell disorder (hypothesis).

Good luck and let me know if you have any question!

 

[wowzer]

Histamine is incredibly short lived in the body. What you want to test is N-methylhistamine, which is a metabolite of histamine. This is better done with a 24-hour collection of urine. Note, however, that all collected urine needs to be kept chilled at all times, even when transporting it to the lab. Here is one such test by Quest Diagnostics: N-METHYLHISTAMINE,URINE.

I don't think ME/CFS is due to a methylation block. I am fairly convinced that ME/CFS is just undiagnosed Mast Cell Activation Disorder. If you are having problem with histamine, have a look at this thread: ME/CFS is a mast cell disorder (hypothesis).

Good luck and let me know if you have any question!

I am so, so glad you mentioned this. It's really interesting because I started looking into the histamine testing because I've noticed that claritin improves some of my symptoms. So, I was thinking, ok, high histamine, low methylation. Now, I had read a bit about masto but I was still sort of thinking along the lines of low methylation.


But I'm confused now, because when I read about masto, the stuff I read seemed to say that the way it was tested for was to first do a tryptase and/or urine histamine (just straight histamine, not the methylhistamine), and then if positive they then do a bone marrow biopsy.

Another thing I saw on the masto forums was that it was very difficult to find a doctor who knows about this stuff. A lot of them try to see a couple of well known masto specialists who are knowledgable not just on masto but also mcad/mcas and realize the limitations of testing, etc.

 

[wowzer]

So what would the single most accurate (and non invasive) test be for masto? Urine methylhistamine, PGD2 (urine or serum?), or heparin?

I saw the powerpoint presentation you posted, so that's where I got the PGD2 and heparin.

I won't necessarily be able to get all the tests from my doctor, so I'm trying to figure out what would be the most accurate and beneficial test out of all of them.

 

[nanonug]

But I'm confused now, because when I read about masto, the stuff I read seemed to say that the way it was tested for was to first do a tryptase and/or urine histamine (just straight histamine, not the methylhistamine), and then if positive they then do a bone marrow biopsy.

Serum tryptase is a decent test for mastocytosis (aberrant mast cell proliferation). However, even if it is negative, one may still have MCAS (aberrant mast cell activation).

Another thing I saw on the masto forums was that it was very difficult to find a doctor who knows about this stuff.

Yes, indeed. I had to convince by Immunologist to do it for me. I also took with me this document: MCAS Primer for Physicians.

Where in the world are you? There may be a MCAD specialist near you!

So what would the single most accurate (and non invasive) test be for masto? Urine methylhistamine, PGD2 (urine or serum?), or heparin?

All the reading I have done suggests the following three tests as the necessary ones: serum tryptase, 24-hour urinary N-methylhistamine and 24-hour uninary Prostaglandin D2. And, if you have gastrointestinal symptoms or flushing, a 24-hour urinary 5-HIAA is also probably a good idea to rule out carcinoid syndrome. Heparin appears to be less used but I guess it can't hurt to do it.

Good luck!

 

[Freddd]

When methylfolate is low allergic response goes high. The whole body becomes inflamed with hypersensitive reactions from allergies, to asthma, MCS, hyper immune responses and all sorts of over reation to just about anything. This reaction is very vividly demonstrated with glutathione which can casue those reactions sometimes (dose dependent?) to start in hours and worsening day by day. When methylfolate goes low healthy cell formation goes out the window. Mast cells are affected by low folate and the results with folic acid are pretty uncertain (we already know that) in it's treatment but "ought" to be effective according to the research I read.

 

[newradost]

Hi Fredd, what do you suggest to be the treatment of all those high histamine allergy reactions? Do you know that most of the kids nowadays are born with it? My 4 yo is so allergic (leaky gut suspect) that he can eat almost 7 foods. I have done Yasko test - he has hetero for MTHFR (C677T).

He is very very sensitive to sulphur in foods and actually he can't eat them.

+- COMT (V158M,H62H), VDR Fok, MTHFR (C677T), MTRR (11), BHMT (4,8), CBS (C699T,A360A), SHMT, NOS

 

[redo]

All the reading I have done suggests the following three tests as the necessary ones: serum tryptase, 24-hour urinary N-methylhistamine and 24-hour uninary Prostaglandin D2. And, if you have gastrointestinal symptoms or flushing, a 24-hour urinary 5-HIAA is also probably a good idea to rule out carcinoid syndrome. Heparin appears to be less used but I guess it can't hurt to do it.
Good luck!

Are these tests and ordinary GP could order. Say, if I went to my GP and asked for this, and collected urine for 24 hours and turned it in to the local hospital for testing, then it should be fine?