Urticaria, Itchy Rash, Hives: We offer Tests & Treatment
Mechanism
Chronic spontaneous urticaria is a common skin disorder that is characterised by recurrent itchy, usually raised rash (wheals) and pruritus, with or without angioedema, which can persist for ≥ 6 weeks.
London Allergy and Immunology Centre is the first UK certified Urticaria Centre of Reference and Excellence
Why do you need to see a doctor?
Doctor will do a number of blood test that will help to find out what is causing your symptoms
-urticaria can be related to more severe autoimmune condition.
-urticaria can have allergic nature and simple avoidance can help a lot.
-urticaria can be related to physical factors (temperature, pressure…)
-urticaria can be induced by exercise.
-sometimes it is not possible to find what causes the symptoms, but than doctor can advice how to achieve better control.
What blood tests are recommended?
New HR-Urticaria test -Histamine release (CURT)
This test can help to diagnose a subgroup of chronic urticaria related to circulating histamine releasing auto antibodies.
Identifying this subgroup of patients has practical implications for their treatment.
Other tests: (Full blood count, liver and thyroid function, autoimmune antibodies, total specific IgE and some others)
Occasionally screening for allergens (food and airborne) are used if doctor suspects it to be of allergic nature.
References:
Carsten Bindslev-Jensen, Aldo Finzi, Malcolm Greaves, Jose Camarasa, Jean-Paul Ortonne. Chronic urticaria: diagnostic recommendations. JEADV (2000)14,175-180.
M.H.Platzer, C.E.H.Grattan, L.K.Poulsen, P.S.Skov. Validation of basophil histamine release against the autologous serum skin test and outcome of serum-induced basophil histamine release studies in a large population of chronic urticaria patients. Allergy 2005: 60: 1152-1156.
High prevalence of autoimmune urticaria in children with chronic urticaria. Luigia Brunetti, Ruggiero Francavilla, Vito L. Miniello, Michael H. Platzer, Domenica Rizzi, Maria Letizia Lospalluti, Lars K. Poulsen, Lucio Armenio, Per Stahl Skov. J. Allergy Clin Immunol; October 2004: 922-927
Se also information in our Allergy blog:
Chronic urticaria 4 Nov 2011 07:03
Informa Healthcare – Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy – 0(0):1 – Summaryinformahealthcare.comChronic urticaria: a comparison of management guidelinesJean-Paul Ortonne MD Posted online on October 29, 2011. (doi …
Allergy Blog Allergy News Information for Patients GPs and Health Professionals > Chronic urticaria
What Causes Exercise Urticaria? 20 Feb 2012 08:43
Allergic to Exercise? What Causes Exercise Urticaria? From @DermdocDo you break out in an itchy rash or develop itchy pink welts when you exercise? If so, you might have …
Allergy Blog Allergy News Information for Patients GPs and Health Professionals > What Causes Exercise Urticaria?
Selective COX-2 inhibitors may be unsafe 8 Oct 2011 00:55
Response to a selective COX-2 inhibitor in patients with urticaria/angioedema induced by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugsonlinelibrary.wiley.com Doña I, Blanca-López N, Jagemann LR, Torres MJ …
Allergy Blog Allergy News Information for Patients GPs and Health Professionals > Selective COX-2 inhibitors may be unsafe
Novel antihistamine 23 Oct 2011 10:58
Bilastine in allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and urticariaC. Bachert1, P. Kuna2 & T. Zuberbier3Allergy Volume 65, Issue Supplement s93, Article first published online: 19 MAY 2010… Given its pharmacodynamic profile, which …
Allergy Blog Allergy News Information for Patients GPs and Health Professionals > Novel antihistamine