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Chronic Urticaria as an Autoimmune Disease

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Autoimmune Diseases of the Skin

Abstract

Urticaria is conventionally classified as acute, intermittent or chronic (Greaves, 2000a). The cause of acute urticaria is often recognized by the patient if it is due to an IgE-mediated hypersensitive reaction, and will not be considered further. Intermittent urticaria — frequent bouts of unexplained urticaria at intervals of weeks or months — will be discussed here on the same basis as the ordinary presentation of chronic urticaria but may have a definable external trigger, such as food or drug intolerance. The latter is conventionally defined as the occurrence of daily or almost daily whealing for at least six weeks with or without angioedema. The etiology of chronic urticaria has conventionally been regarded as obscure and hence the term idiopathic is often applied. However, there is increasing evidence that up to 50% of patients with ‘idiopathic’ chronic urticaria have autoimmune chronic urticaria. The diagnosis is important since it carries conceptual, prognostic and therapeutic implications. Contact urticaria and angioedema without wheals will not be dealt with in this account.

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  1. Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals, Colney Lane, Norwich, NR4 7UY, UK

    Clive Grattan MD

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Grattan, C., Hide, M., Greaves, M.W. (2011). Chronic Urticaria as an Autoimmune Disease. In: Hertl, M. (eds) Autoimmune Diseases of the Skin. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-99225-8_15

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