BACKGROUND It has been demonstrated that neutrophils, eosinophils and monocytes, under appropriated stimulus, may express tissue factor and therefore, activate the extrinsic pathway of coagulation. We performed a transversal and case-control study of patients with chronic urticaria and patients with psoriasis, in our outpatient clinic to evaluate the production of D-dimer. OBJECTIVE To evalua...

In vitro and in vivo clinical and experimental data have suggested that leukotrienes play a key role in inflammatory reactions of the skin. Antileukotriene drugs, ie, leukotriene receptor antagonists and synthesis inhibitors, are a class of anti-inflammatory drugs that have shown clinical efficacy in the management of asthma and in rhinitis with asthma. We searched MEDLINE database and carried ...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Aspirin-induced urticaria/angioedema is a major aspirin-related hypersensitivity often associated with aspirin-intolerant asthma. Genetic studies on aspirin-intolerant asthma have shown chronic overproduction of cysteinyl leukotrienes. The genetic analysis of aspirin-induced urticaria/angioedema is limited, however. RECENT FINDINGS A recent study on HLA genotypes has suggest...

Wheat is widely consumed all over India in various forms--flour, daliya, maida, suji and wheat bran. Very few cases of wheat induced urticaria have been reported. This may be due to unusual features of wheat related hypersensitivity. A 35 year old female presented to us with history of chronic urticaria and angioedema. History revealed correlation between wheat intake and urticaria episodes. Pr...

Adrenergic urticaria, a rare but distinct subtype of the physical urticarias, is characterized by wheals that are typically surrounded by a white halo of vasoconstriction, and by a positive response to intradermal adrenaline and noradrenaline injections. The pathogenesis of adrenergic urticaria is unknown. We report here a case of a 64-year-old woman with adrenergic urticaria who was found to h...

INTRODUCTION The association of chronic urticaria and thyroid autoimmunity is not well recognised and the potential use of thyroxine in the treatment of chronic urticaria in patients with thyroid autoimmunity is even less well known. CLINICAL PICTURE We report a case of chronic urticaria in an euthyroid patient with evidence of significantly elevated levels of thyroglobulin and microsomal ant...

BACKGROUND Urticaria produces weals, which are itchy and can affect the quality of life and social functioning of an affected patient. There are several different subtypes of urticaria. This article focuses on chronic urticaria. OBJECTIVE This article details the approach to assessment and management of chronic urticaria. DISCUSSION Chronic urticaria is characterised by the occurrence of we...

One of the recommended first-line treatments for basal cell carcinomas, actinic keratoses and Bowen's disease is photodynamic therapy. Commonly associated side- effects include pain and phototoxicity. Histamine release is a part of this reaction, but whealing urticaria follow noting photodynamic therapy has only been reported by the manufacturer. The aim of this study was to investigate the pre...

Background Urticaria, a heterogeneous group of diseases, often cannot be recognized by its morphology. Due to non-specific and non-affordable diagnosis, management of urticaria, especially chronic urticaria, is very challenging. This guideline includes definition, causes, classification and management of urticaria. Urticaria has a profound impact on the quality of life and causes immense distre...

BACKGROUND An association between class I and II alleles of the major histocompatibility complex and idiopathic chronic urticaria has previously been observed in different populations, but there are still no studies on Brazilian populations in this regard. OBJECTIVE The involvement of the major histocompatibility complex classes I and II (loci A, B and DR) in Brazilian patients with idiopathi...