Urticaria and angio-oedema.

Urticaria and angio-oedema.

Urticaria and angio-oedema are a symptom complex covering a wide range of clinical disorders. Specific types are now well described, and it appears that many cases of idiopathic chronic urticaria which make up the vast majority of patients referred for assessment are due to intolerance to natural salicylates, preservatives and colouring agents. There is, therefore, an urgent need for legislatio...

Urticaria, angio-oedema and anaphylaxis.

laxis are distinct clinical entities caused by transient plasma leakage from small blood vessels. When the affected vessels are superficial the result is a raised, itchy swelling of the skin known as a weal. Involvement of deeper vessels produces tender subcutaneous and submucosal swellings known as angio-oedema. Generalised plasma exudation leading to shock is a feature of anaphylaxis but also...

Management and diagnostic guidelines for urticaria and angio-oedema.

These guidelines for management of urticaria and angio-oedema have been prepared for dermatologists on behalf of the British Association of Dermatologists. They present evidence-based guidance for treatment, with identification of the strength of evidence available at the time of preparation of the guidelines, and a brief overview of aetiology, diagnosis and investigation.

Chronic urticaria with angio-oedema controlled by warfarin.

Hereditary angio-oedema

Hereditary angio-oedema is caused by a heterozygous deficiency of C1 inhibitor. This inhibitor regulates several inflammatory pathways, and patients with hereditary angio-oedema have intermittent cutaneous or mucosal swellings because of a failure to control local production of bradykinin. Swellings typically evolve in several hours and persist for a few days. In addition to orofacial angio-oed...