Chronic urticaria and autoimmunity: associations found in a large population study

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Dermatology
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Chronic urticaria (CU) is a prevalent condition often presumed idiopathic.
• Emerging evidence suggests an autoimmune basis for a subset of CU cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between chronic urticaria (CU) and autoimmune diseases.
• To examine the link between CU and autoimmune/inflammatory serologic markers in a large population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 12,778 CU patients over 17 years.
• Data collection on autoimmune diseases and serologic markers in CU patients and 10,714 controls.

Main Results:

• CU patients showed increased odds of hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and antithyroid antibodies.
• Female CU patients had higher incidence of rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren syndrome, celiac disease, type I diabetes, and lupus.
• High mean platelet volume, rheumatoid factor, and antinuclear antibodies were more prevalent in CU patients.

Conclusions:

• A significant association exists between chronic urticaria and major autoimmune diseases.
• Shared autoimmune pathogenesis is suggested by autoantibody prevalence and chronic inflammation markers.
• Findings impact the diagnosis, management, and prognosis of chronic urticaria.