Replication study concerning the effects of homeopathic dilutions of histamine on human basophil degranulation in vitro

Abstract

Background: Various investigators have observed significant effects of highly diluted histamine on human basophil degranulation in vitro, compared to corresponding water controls. However, active and inactive dilution levels differed in most studies.

Objective: We aimed to reproduce former studies with flow-cytometry using rigorously controlled experimental conditions to minimise confounding factors.

Methods: In seven independent experiments, basophils of the same human donor were incubated with diluted histamine (up to 10(-34)M) or water controls and activated with anti-IgE antibodies. Basophil activation was determined by using bi-colour flow-cytometry. Experiments were blinded and performed with a randomised arrangement of the solutions on microtiter-plates.

Results: Histamine at the dilutions 10(-2)M and 10(-22)M was associated with a significant inhibition of basophil degranulation (p=0.018, Wilcoxon signed rank test) of 23.1% and 5.7%, respectively, if compared to "diluted" water treated in an identical manner. However, if all controls were pooled, only histamine 10(-2)M had a significant effect. Significant effects were seen for row numbers of the microtiter plates.

Conclusion: We were not able to confirm the previously reported large effects of homeopathic histamine dilutions on basophil function of the examined donor. Seemingly, minor variables of the experimental set up can lead to significant differences of the results if not properly controlled.