title: Significance of tartrazine sensitivity in chronic urticaria of unknown etiology.
abstract: Of 38 patients with chronic urticaria of unknown etiology who were evaluated for food and drug additive sensitivity, 53% (20/38) had urticaria for 1 yr or more. Total eosinophil counts were not elevated in most patients, and the frequency of atopy was found to be similar to that in a general population. Of these 38 patients, 10 (26%) had a personal history of aspirin intolerance, but elimination of aspirin did not relieve the urticaria. In a double-blind crossover challenge with 0.22 mg of tartrazine and a control, tartrazine sensitivity was found in 8% (3/38) of patients with chronic urticaria and 20% (2/10) of patients with aspirin intolerance.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects; D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001557:Benzenesulfonates / Q000009:adverse effects; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004804:Eosinophils; D005260:Female; D005505:Food Coloring Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000009:adverse effects; D014581:Urticaria / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D001391:Azo Compounds; D001557:Benzenesulfonates; D005505:Food Coloring Agents; D011720:Pyrazoles; D001241:Aspirin