[Chronic urticaria: a report of 233 cases]

Chronic urticaria (CU) is a common condition. Usually benign, it can be debilitating. The main step was to identify the potential causes of CU to institute the strategy for management of patients.

To present the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic features of CU.

233 cases of CU were enrolled through a retrospective study conducted in the dermatology department of La Rabta hospital during 10 years (1997-2006).

The mean age of our patients was about 36 years with a sex ratio of 2.28. The mean duration of the CU before the consultation was 21 months. Inducing Factors were reported in 109 cases, dominated by physical factors (73 cases). Severe symptoms as facial edema were observed in 44 cases. The CU was considered as idiopathic in 179 cases (77%). An etiology was found in 54 cases, dominated by physical origin, noted in 25 cases. All patients were treated by antihistaminic. Systemic corticosteroids were associated in 41 patients. Partial improvement was the mainly outcome (166 cases).

CU is a frequent disease which the diagnosis is based on clinical exam. The causes of CU were numerous and sometimes intricate, that gives the etiologic courses difficult and usually disappointing.