Subtypes of chronic urticaria in patients attending allergy clinics in Venezuela.
Chronic urticaria (CU) is one of the most puzzling clinical entities confronted by the medical profession. It is a common motive for consultation, and in a sizable proportion of patients no identifiable cause is evident. Since there are relatively few publications regarding CU in developing countries, we performed a prospective 3-year study on the demographic and clinical features of patients with CU. Four hundred and twenty-three subjects were studied, 52 children and 371 adults, 295 females (69.7%), with a mean age of 38.4 ± 17.8 years. More often, wheals and angioedema (AE) were present on the head, upper and lower limbs and the trunk. AE was present in 162 patients (38.4%). The most frequent subtypes were chronic spontaneous urticaria, aspirin-exacerbated cutaneous disease, dermographic urticaria, and combinations of various subtypes. A better understanding of the characteristics of patients suffering CU is helpful for clinicians dealing with this ailment, and provides guidance for new investigations on its pathogenesis, which will hopefully result in a better management of this vexing condition.
Allergy and Clinical Immunology Department, Clínica El Avila, 6a transversal Urb. Altamira, piso 8, consultorio 803, Caracas 1060, Venezuela Phone/FAX: +58 212 261 52 84 E-mail: sanchezbmario@gmail.com. Allergy and Clinical Immunology Department, Centro Médico-Docente La Trinidad, Caracas, Venezuela.
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M
Sánchez-Borges
Allergy and Clinical Immunology Department, Centro Médico-Docente La Trinidad, Caracas, Venezuela.
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Caballero-Fonseca
Allergy and Clinical Immunology Department, Centro Médico-Docente La Trinidad, Caracas, Venezuela.
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Capriles-Hulett
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014581:Urticaria / Q000145:classification* / Q000209:etiology
Angioedema; antihistamines; chronic urticaria; urticaria