chronic urticaria

A prevalence study was conducted in Portugal to compare the rate of eczema and urticaria within regions and with other countries in Europe.

A telephone interview survey was performed in the last quarter of 2017. Investigators analysed 5000 phone calls to subjects over 16 years old, previously diagnosed with eczema or urticaria living in Portugal. The sample had a proportion representative by population, region, gender and age group.

They estimate the prevalence of eczema and urticaria in Portugal is 4,4 and 3,4%, respectively. Algarve is the region with the highest prevalence. Women are also more affected than men are and seem to be more at risk than men.

Overall, the prevalences found are higher than previously reported, but comparable to results from other countries. From a former study by Harrop and his team, in Europe atopic eczema is 0,14-0,60% of general eczema. Portuguese investigators estimate that atopic eczema prevalence in Portugal is around 0,61-2,64%.

Recurrent urticaria is a frequent presenting complaint in the Allergy Clinic, despite the fact that chronic urticaria (CU) is not an IgE-mediated (atopic) condition in most cases. We present four cases assessed over 5 years in our allergy service who were found to have evidence of strongyloidiasis and whose clinical features resolved with standard anti-helminth treatment.

Investigators made a cross-sectional analysis using electronic health records data for a demographically heterogeneous population-based sample of over 55 million patients in all four census regions the United States in order to understand the disease burden in chronic urticaria.

From the analysis of the available census data, they estimate that the overall chronic urticaria prevalence is 0,23% (or 230 patients per 100,000 adults). The adjusted prevalence in women was 310 per 100,000 adults, more than twice that of men (146 per 100,000 adults).

Patients aged 40-49 and 50-59 years old had a higher prevalence compared with all other age groups. Also, Caucasians had a lower prevalence of urticaria than African American and “other” people.

In conclusion, despite census data available may underestimate the burden of chronic urticaria, this team estimates that over 500,000 people have chronic urticaria in the United States, most of whom are women and adults over 40 years old.

In patients with chronic urticaria, about 25%-30% of cases, antithyroid peroxidase (TPO) was detected and Hashimoto’s disease was diagnosed. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-TPO antibody in patients with chronic urticaria and the effect of treatment of levothyroxine on its recovery.