Research Information System
Türkderm, vol.36, no.1, pp.24-28, 2002 (Peer-Reviewed Journal)
Appropriate challenge tests to identify patient whom physical urticaria and autologous serum skin test to identify patients who have functional autoantibodies are most important tests to show the etiology of chronic urticaria. Materials and Methods: Basic blood, urine and stool examinations and appropriate challenge tests to determine physical urticaria had been performed in 88 patients with
chronic urticaria. The patients associated with angioedema were investigated for the level of C4. The patients who had cholinergic urticaria were examined for atopic dermatitis, allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis and investigated for the level of total IgE /specific IgE. The patients with cold urticaria evaluated for cryoglobulin, cold agglutinin and cryofibrinogen. Autolog serum skin test was performed in 35 patients with chronic urticaria. Results and Conclusion: Challenge tests to determine physical urticaria were positive in 73 (%83,3) of the 88 patients. Cholinergic urticaria was present in 29 (%39,72) of the 73 patients and was the most common of all the physical urticaria. Twenty- seven patients (%36,98) had physical urticaria types concurrently. Autologous serum skin test was positive in 24 (%63,15) of 35 patients with chronic urticaria. We suggest that physical stimuli and autoimmune antibodies play the most important role in the etiopathogenesis of chronic urticaria.