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Effect of arterial hypertension on chronic urticaria duration

Franco Nebiolo1, Roberta Bergia, Luisa Bommarito

  • 1Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of Torino and AO Ordine Mauriziano Hospital, Torino, Italy.

Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology : Official Publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology
|November 26, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Systemic hypertension is linked to longer chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) duration. This finding may inform new treatment strategies for antihistamine-refractory CIU, potentially including hypertension management.

Area of Science:

  • Allergy and Immunology
  • Dermatology
  • Hypertension Research

Background:

  • Chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) lacks reliable markers for predicting disease duration.
  • Previous studies inconsistently linked angioedema, autologous serum skin test (ASST) results, and antithyroid antibodies to prolonged urticaria.
  • The pathogenesis of CIU may involve coagulation cascade activation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate associations between clinical and laboratory parameters and the duration of chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU).
  • To specifically examine the role of systemic hypertension in CIU duration, considering potential links to coagulation pathways.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective study followed 228 adult patients with moderate to severe CIU for 3-5 years.
  • Data collected included sex, atopy, autoimmunity markers, antithyroid antibodies, ASST results, H. pylori infection, and hypertension.
  • Cox regression models analyzed the association of these parameters with urticaria remission.

Main Results:

  • Systemic hypertension was significantly associated with a longer duration of CIU (hazard ratio, 0.71; P = .02).
  • After 5 years, 74% of hypertensive patients still had CIU compared to 54% of non-hypertensive patients.
  • No other investigated parameters demonstrated a significant influence on CIU remission.

Conclusions:

  • Hypertension is identified as a novel factor associated with extended chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) duration.
  • This finding, alongside evidence of vascular and coagulation involvement in CIU, suggests hypertension management as a potential therapeutic avenue for refractory cases.
Abstract

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