Etiological causes in patients with acute urticaria and angioedema: A cross-sectional study

Acute urticaria and angioedema are emergency dermatological conditions associated with various etiologic factors.

To determine the etiological causes in patients with acute urticaria and angioedema, and to investigate whether more than one etiological cause was present, along with the patients' laboratory values.

The study was conducted in a tertiary hospital with one center. Etiological causes and laboratory parameters in 284 patients diagnosed with acute urticaria and angioedema were retrospectively studied.

A total of 284 patients were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 42.7 ± 15.6 years, where 163 (57.4%) were women and 121 (42.6%) were men. Acute urticaria and angioedema occurred together in 149 (52.5%) patients. At least one precipitating factor among the predisposing risk factors was present in 220 (77.5%) patients, and more than one precipitating factor was found in 51 (18%) patients. Medication use was found in 157 (55.3%) patients and infection in 54 (19%). The development of urticaria after food consumption was noted in nine (3.2%) individuals. A history of infection and medication intake was present in 50 (17.6%) patients. A joint history of food consumption and medication intake was present in only one patient. Elevated C-reactive protein level was found in 178 (62.7%) patients and elevated anti-streptolysin O titer in 41 (14.4%) patients. Vitamin B12 deficiency was found in 116 (40.8%) patients and vitamin D deficiency in 254 (89.4%).

Acute urticaria and angioedema may occur as a result of multiple etiological factors, in which different triggers may be present simultaneously.