title: Urticaria and thyroid autoimmunity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic urticaria is a common clinical condition whose etiology, in about 75% of cases, is unknown and is therefore called chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU). A link between CIU and autoimmune thyroid diseases was proposed several decades ago. Here we review this topic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several studies have been performed to determine if and to what degree there is an association between CIU and autoimmune thyroid diseases, particularly autoimmune thyroiditis. Many of these studies were not well controlled, however. Approximately one-fourth of CIU patients have serological evidence of thyroid autoimmunity, suggesting that these two disorders are associated. The mechanisms for the apparent association between CIU and serological evidence of thyroid autoimmunity are not clear. There are no data regarding the correlations between CIU and histological features of autoimmune thyroiditis or hypothyroidism. Despite this, there are anecdotal reports regarding L-thyroxine administration in patients with CIU.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Screening for thyroid autoimmunity is probably useful in patients with CIU. More solid evidence, based on still lacking well-conducted controlled studies, is desirable to determine if there is a therapeutic role for L-thyroxine treatment in ameliorating the skin manifestations of urticaria.
authors.affiliation: Terapia Medica e Radiometabolica, Dipartimento di Patologie Immunoendocrinologiche, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino, Genoa, Italy. bagnasco@unige.it
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bagnasco
authors.forename: Paola L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Minciullo
authors.forename: Giovanna S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Saraceno
authors.forename: Sebastiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gangemi
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benvenga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000276:immunology; D050031:Hashimoto Disease / Q000276:immunology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000150:complications; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology*; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000150:complications*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014581:Urticaria / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D013974:Thyroxine