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[Chronic urticaria and toxocara canis infection. A case-control study]
E Wolfrom1, G Chêne, H Lejoly-Boisseau
1Unité de Dermatologie pédiatrique, CHU de Bordeaux.
Annales De Dermatologie Et De Venereologie
|January 1, 1996
Summary
Chronic urticaria may be linked to Toxocara canis antibodies. Further research is needed to confirm a causal relationship and explore treatments for this common skin condition.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Parasitology
- Dermatology
Context:
- Chronic urticaria (CU) often has an unknown etiology.
- A potential association between CU and antibodies to *Toxocara canis* was observed.
- A case-control study was designed to investigate this association.
Purpose:
- To determine if antibodies to *Toxocara canis* are more prevalent in patients with chronic urticaria compared to controls.
- To explore the potential role of *Toxocara canis* infection in the pathogenesis of chronic urticaria.
- To evaluate the efficacy of antiparasitic treatment in patients with CU and *Toxocara canis* antibodies.
Summary:
- A case-control study involving 51 chronic urticaria patients and matched controls found a significantly higher frequency of *Toxocara canis* antibodies in cases (64.7%) versus controls (21%, p < 0.0001).
- Patients with antibodies to *Toxocara canis* reported more frequent contact with pets.
- Antiparasitic treatment (thiabendazole or ivermectin) led to cure or improvement in 65% of treated CU patients with *Toxocara canis* antibodies, while untreated patients showed no improvement.
Impact:
- The findings suggest a strong association between *Toxocara canis* antibodies and chronic urticaria, warranting further investigation into a causal link.
- This research highlights the importance of considering parasitic infections, specifically *Toxocara canis*, in the differential diagnosis of chronic urticaria.
- The study supports the evaluation of antiparasitic therapies and preventive measures, such as pet deworming and hygiene, for managing chronic urticaria.