BACKGROUND Chronic spontaneous urticaria (csU), which is characterized by recurrent episodes of mast cell-driven wheal and flare-type skin reactions, is often associated with elevated total IgE levels and thyroid autoimmunity. We speculate that some csU patients express IgE autoantibodies against thyroid antigens such as thyroid peroxidase (TPO), which could bind to skin mast cells and induce t...

BACKGROUND The precise pathogenesis of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) remains unknown. However, an important association between CSU and autoimmune disorders such as Hashimoto's disease (HD) has been reported. We investigated the frequency of HD as a comorbidity of CSU and the prevalence rate of autoreactivity among CSU patients with HD. PATIENTS AND METHODS The presence of thyroid autoa...

The electronic records of 398 patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) who had had a serum basophil histamine release assay (BHRA) performed as a marker of functional autoantibodies were audited. The BHRA was positive in 105 patients (26.4%). Fifty eight were treated with ciclosporin because they were H1 anti-histamine unresponsive. CSU patients with a positive BHRA were more likely to...

Background Rupatadine is an anti-H1/PAF antagonist that has proven to be effective and safe in adults/adolescents for Allergic Rhinitis (AR) and Urticaria. In addition, Rupatadine has been recently licensed for the symptomatic treatment of AR in children aged 6-11 years. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of Rupatadine oral solution in children with Chronic Spontaneous ...

INTRODUCTION Assessing the consequences of chronic spontaneous/idiopathic urticaria (CSU) requires the evaluation of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) associated with the severity of CSU signs and symptoms. It is important to understand how signs, symptoms, and HRQoL change over time in CSU. Evidence is lacking on how closely changes in signs and symptoms of CSU are related to changes in H...

Background and Study Aims. The association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) remains controversial. This study explored the role of H. pylori in CSU among different virulent genotypes patients. Patients and Methods. Patients infected by H. pylori were sorted into two groups as group A (with CSU) and group B (without CSU). The tissue materials were t...

BACKGROUND Up-regulation of interleukin 17 (IL-17) family cytokines and acute phase response have been observed in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). It has been demonstrated that IL-17 stimulates C-reactive protein (CRP) expression. AIM To determine relationship between circulating concentrations of IL-17 and CRP in CSU. METHODS Concentrations of IL-17 in plasma and CRP in ...

BACKGROUND Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a common problem worldwide. We evaluated the direct medical costs of treating patients with refractory CSU and the budget effect of omalizumab use in these patients in Kuwait. METHODS The prevalence of CSU was estimated using the Delphi method. Medical records of patients with refractory CSU in Kuwait were reviewed. Costs were calculated from ...

There have been recent advances in the classification and management of chronic urticaria. The new term chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) has replaced chronic idiopathic urticaria and chronic autoimmune urticaria. In addition, chronic inducible urticaria (CINDU) has replaced physical urticaria and includes other forms of inducible urticaria, such as cholinergic and aquagenic urticaria. Furthe...