title: Drug-induced urticaria.
abstract: Urticaria is characterised by transient swellings of the skin, which fluctuate over hours. Deeper swellings of the subcutaneous and submucosal tissue are known as angio-oedema. Drug-induced urticaria has been reported with a wide range of drugs and vaccines. NSAIDs and antibiotics are the drugs most commonly associated with urticaria, although reliable data from prospectively controlled studies is scarce. Spontaneous reports of drug-induced urticaria to the Committee on Safety of Medicines, UK, over a 40-year period also implicate bupropion, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor antidepressants, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), H2 and H1 antihistamines, and systemic antifungals. New evidence suggests that selective COX-2 inhibitors may be tolerated in patients with aspirin-sensitive urticaria. The safety of angiotensin II receptor antagonists in patients with angio-oedema induced by ACEI has not yet been established.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Colney Lane, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7UY, UK. eunicetan@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: Eunice K H
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Clive E H
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Grattan
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000009:adverse effects; D000799:Angioedema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000009:adverse effects; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000276:immunology; D001920:Bradykinin / Q000378:metabolism; D003167:Complement Activation; D003429:Cross Reactions; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity; D006636:Histamine Release / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D014581:Urticaria / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D014612:Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D014612:Vaccines; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D001920:Bradykinin