Usefulness of studies looking for autoimmunity in patients with spontaneous chronic urticaria

Abstract

Background: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a common condition in adults, especially among women; this entity is frequently associated with autoimmune diseases. Our goal is to assess through laboratory studies whether patients with autoimmune CSU presented data.

Material and method: A cross-sectional study of 35 patients was done in the area of Allergy and Immunology at Hospital Juarez de Mexico diagnosed with CSU. We performed the following tests: complete blood count, thyroid antibodies (antiperoxidase and thyroglobulin), antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor, lupus anticoagulant, LE cells Autologous Serum Skin Test (ASST), add (C3 and C4). In addition, we made Helicobacter pylori test, thyroid hormones (T3, T4, TSH) and D-dimer.

Results: We evaluated 35 adult patients, 27 female; ASST was positive in 4 patients, negative antinuclear antibodies in all cases, but positive anti thyroid (AAT) antibodies in 4. The LE cell, lupus anticoagulant, complement, dimer D, thyroid and Helicobacter pylori profile were normal or negative and rheumatoid factor was positive in one patient. All AAT-positive patients were women, but 26 of them had negative ASST. The correlation between ASST and AAT was not significant.

Conclusion: Most patients were women UCE and only 4 had positive ASST, but this does not correlate with the presence of anti-thyroid antibodies. Most studies were normal, so we suggest not making unnecessary laboratory studies in this disease.