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Pre-charged prick tests and intradermal skin tests (two dilutions) were tested simultaneously in 79 patients using seven drugs (suxamethonium, gallamine, alcuronium, pancuronium, vecuronium, fentanyl and thiopentone) commonly administered during general anaesthesia. Fifty-seven of the patients had suffered anaphylaxis to anaesthetics: 50 had been tested previously (19.5 +/- 13.5 months) by intradermal tests (group 1) and seven were tested for the first time (group 2). Six patients had suffered a side effect during anaesthesia which was unrelated to anaesthetic agents (group 3) and 16 were control subjects (group 4). Prick and intradermal skin tests were simultaneously positive in 98 instances out of 553 (17.7%) and negative in 440 out of 553 (79.6%)--a correlation of 538 out of 553 (97.3%; P less than 0.001). In groups 1, 2 and 3 the correlation was 426 out of 441 (96.6%; P less than 0.001). In group 1, a correlation was observed between the diameters of the weals (r = 0.5; P less than 0.001) obtained by prick and intradermal skin tests, and between the diameters of the flares (r = 0.5; P less than 0.001).

A prospective study of total IgE, specific IgE against 12 common foods, and prick-tests with 11 common food allergens was performed on 50 consecutive migraine sufferers. Total IgE levels were found above 100 kU/l for seven patients, but five of them were atopic. Prick-tests and RAST were positive for four and six patients (class 1), respectively. Food challenge on these six patients did not cause any migraine attacks. This study thus indicates a very low frequency of allergic dietary migraine to common foods.

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SYNOPSIS After reviewing the pathophysiological features suggesting a role of prostaglandins in migraine, we have analyzed the literature concerning double‐blind trials of anti‐inflammatory drugs versus placebo or reference compounds in the acute and long‐term preventive treatment of migraine. For both of these indications, in the majority of double‐blind trials NSAID's have been found to be superior to placebo and equivalent to reference drugs. Certain points remain to be defined including, in particular, the following: • acceptability in the long‐term or by frequent repeated administrations, • efficacy according to different types or factors inducing migraine. More extensive trials are therefore indicated.