Dictionary of Allergies .. Cold allergy

Cold allergy

A condition manifested by local and systemic reactions, mediated by histamine, which is released from mast cells and basophils as a result of exposure to cold. Neither basophils, nor eosinophils or platelets are directly involved in cold urticaria and that mast cell-dependent mediators may be of greater relevance.

References
Rosenkranz AR, Wekkeli M, Hippmann G, Benda H, Jarisch R, Götz M. Cold urticaria as a model of mediator release: platelet factor 4, eosinophil cationic protein and histamine. Allergy. 1992 Aug;47(4 Pt 2):366-70.