Association between chronic urticaria and thyroid autoimmunity

The association between chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) and thyroid autoimmunity has most often been suggested in studies investigating thyroid microsomal antibodies, which are less sensitive and specific than anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies, moreover these studies were not case-control studies in large series. By comparing a large patient series presenting with CIU with a large numbered control group we aimed to learn the extent of autoimmune thyroid disease. We compared the frequency of thyroid autoantibodies in 140 patients with CIU with 181 age-and sex-matched volunteers. Thyroid function tests and thyroid autoantibodies were measured by chemiluminescent immunometric assay in study groups. The frequency of thyroid autoantibodies was significantly higher in patients with CIU than that in healthy controls (29.28 %/5.52%; p < 0.001). Of 41 patients, 10 had thyroid dysfunction and the other cases were euthyroid. The higher frequency of these antibodies in our patients shows that there was a strong association between CIU and thyroid autoimmunity.     

Association of chronic urticaria and angioedema with thyroid autoimmunity

Seventeen patients, constituting 12.1% of 140 consecutively seen cases of chronic urticaria, demonstrated thyroid autoimmunity with thyroid microsomal antibodies (TMAs) in serum titers greater than or equal to 1:1,600. Eight of these 17 patients had goiter or thyroid dysfunction. In a control group of 477 consecutively seen patients, only 27 (5.6%) had similar TMA titers. Routine and special immunologic test results in this group of 17 patients did not differ from those found in other patients with chronic urticaria and angioedema (CUA), and the only notable clinical feature was that all 17 had angioedema. The age and sex distribution and thyroid features of these 17 patients were similar to those described in autoimmune thyroiditis. Patients (especially women) with CUA should be tested for the presence of TMAs. In this subgroup, CUA may have an autoimmune basis.     

The association of chronic urticaria and thyroid autoimmunity

To investigate the association of chronic urticaria and autoimmune thyroid disease, a population of patients with thyroid autoimmunity as measured by thyroid autoantibody positivity was compared with a population of patients with thyroid disease without antibodies and an in-patient control group for the incidence and prevalence of skin disorders in particular chronic urticaria and angioedema.     

白细胞介素17与慢性荨麻疹相关性的Meta分析

目的：系统评价白细胞介素17（Interleukin-17, IL-17）与慢性荨麻疹的相关性。方法：检索中国知网、万方数字化期刊全文数据库、VIP中国科技期刊全文数据库、中国生物医学文献数据库、PubMed、Cochrane Library、Web of Science等数据库,搜集有关IL-17与慢性荨麻疹相关的病例对照研究。时间范围为各数据库建库至2019年12月31日。由2名独立评价者进行文献筛选、资料提取和纳入研究偏倚风险评价,后采用Cochrance协作网提供的RevMan5.3软件进行Meta分析。结果：共纳入11个研究,其中慢性荨麻疹患者617例,对照组522例。Meta分析结果显示,慢性荨麻疹组患者血清中IL-17浓度明显升高,与对照组相比,差异具有统计学意义［SMD=1.52, 95%CI(1.13,1.91), Z=7.64, P<0.00001］。结论：慢性荨麻疹患者血清中IL-17明显升高,IL-17可能与慢性荨麻疹具有相关性。     

Impact of corticosteroid withdrawal in chronic urticaria: a prospective study of 17 patients

BACKGROUND: Although two reports have indicated benefits of oral steroids in acute urticaria, the 2003 French guidelines emphasized their inefficacy in the treatment of idiopathic chronic urticaria, and the lack of studies. We present the results of a prospective study in 17 patients presenting severe chronic urticaria who agreed to stop taking oral steroids over a one-year period. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This single-centre prospective study included adults (1) presenting chronic urticaria as defined by the French consensus conference committee on chronic urticaria (2003), (2) exhibiting at least two of the following three criteria: sleep disturbance due to itching, repeated angioedema, general symptoms; (3) unresponsive or mildly improved by antihistaminic (anti-H1) therapy; (4) receiving oral steroids at least three days per month. After inclusion in the study, oral steroids were stopped either immediately or gradually, on a case-by-case basis. Two different anti-H1 agents were prescribed at inclusion with follow-up visits two, four and 12 months after complete withdrawal of oral steroids. RESULTS: Seventeen patients were included (M/F sex-ratio: 0.54; mean age: 40 years). General signs (fever, arthralgia, various pains), delayed pressure urticaria, and idiopathic cutaneous vasculitis were noted respectively, in seven, nine and three cases. Oral steroids had been taken for three to 30 days per month before inclusion. Three patients had received prior treatment (e.g., immunosuppressants), with no improvement. After withdrawal of oral steroids, (1) 47% of patients presented a short relapse and/or worsening of chronic urticaria, (2) three patients dropped out of the study at four months (persistence of chronic urticaria unacceptable to patients, despite a clinical score showing mild response), (3) six (35%) had complete remission of chronic urticaria at 12 months, with delayed pressure urticaria in three of these cases, (4) eight (47%) had partial remission, five of whom had delayed pressure urticaria, (5) lasting remission of general symptoms. DISCUSSION: Our study shows that most cases of chronic urticaria are managed without oral steroids since inefficacy of anti-H1 drugs is generally only temporary. After withdrawal of oral steroids, a short increase in chronic urticaria was frequently observed with constant remission from extracutaneous signs and/or histological evidence of vasculitis. We suggest an active role of oral steroids in the failure of anti-H1 therapy. Moreover, oral steroids do not seem to confer any benefits in delayed pressure urticaria, and pending further prospective controlled studies, we recommend that these drugs be prescribed sparingly in chronic urticaria.     

成人斑秃与甲状腺自身免疫的关系分析

目的 评估成人斑秃患者甲状腺功能异常及甲状腺自身抗体的发生率,分析成人斑秃与甲状腺自身免疫的关系。 方法 按照预先设计的调查表收集斑秃患者人口学信息、病史、斑秃一级亲属家族史,并检测甲状腺功能和甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体（TPO-Ab）。 结果 共有209例患者入选,6.7%的患者伴发甲状腺疾病,20.6%的患者TPO-Ab阳性。与TPO-Ab阴性的患者比较,TPO-Ab阳性的患者斑秃首次发病年龄 < 18岁（P = 0.025）、发生全秃和（或）普秃（AT/AU）的概率更大（P = 0.006）、合并甲状腺疾病的概率更大（P = 0.002）、有更多的一级直系亲属成员患有斑秃（P = 0.001）。 结论 斑秃患者TPO-Ab阳性率较高,即使无甲状腺受累的临床表现,也需对斑秃患者进行甲状腺功能及甲状腺自身抗体检测。     

Thyroid autoimmunity in chronic idiopathic urticaria: implications for therapy

The association between thyroid autoimmunity and chronic idiopathic urticaria has long been recognized, although prevalence rates differ in the studies reported to date (from 12 to 29%). There is, therefore, a strong indication to screen patients affected by chronic urticaria of unknown origin for thyroid antibodies (antithyroperoxidase and antithyroglobulin) and, when positive, for serum thyrotropin to assess thyroid functional status. Less clear is the implication of thyroid autoimmunity for therapy, as most patients with urticaria who have associated thyroid autoimmunity are euthyroid. There is no doubt that cases with clinical or subclinical thyroid dysfunction should undergo treatment with either levothyroxine or antithyroid drugs for hypo- or hyper-function, respectively. Although the best remission rates for symptoms of urticaria have so far been obtained with levothyroxine in patients who are euthyroid, monitoring of thyroid function through serum thyrotropin determination is highly recommended because of the risk of hyperthyroidism, especially in the elderly.     

Effect of levothyroxine treatment on clinical symptoms and serum cytokine levels in euthyroid patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria and thyroid autoimmunity

Background. Screening for thyroid autoimmunity in patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) is generally recommended. However, there are not yet sufficient data as to whether levothyroxine treatment is beneficial for the clinical symptoms of CIU in patients with thyroid autoimmunity. Aim. We investigated the effect of levothyroxine treatment on clinical symptoms and serum tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, interleukin (IL)‐10 and interferon (IFN)‐γ levels in euthyroid patients with CIU and thyroid autoimmunity. Methods. In total, 15 patients with CIU and positive thyroid autoantibodies were randomized to receive either levothyroxine plus 5 mg/day desloratadine (suppression group, n = 8) or 5 mg/day desloratadine alone (control group, n = 7) for 12 weeks. Clinical symptoms of CIU, thyroid hormone levels, thyroid antibodies and serum cytokine levels were assessed at baseline and after the treatment. Results. There were significant improvements in pruritus score and severity of weals in both groups compared with baseline values, but when the two groups were compared, there was no significant difference in the patients’ clinical symptoms. Thyroid antibody titres were not different according to intragroup and intergroup analysis. In the suppression group, serum IFN‐γ and TNF‐α levels were increased after treatment with levothyroxine compared with baseline values and there was a borderline statistical significance (P = 0.05 for both). Conclusions. These results suggest that levothyroxine treatment is not a reasonable option in euthyroid patients with CIU and thyroid autoimmunity. Augmentation of cytokine production after levothyroxine treatment seems to be related to the immunomodulatory effects of TSH‐suppressive treatment.     

慢性荨麻疹患者的甲状腺功能及自身抗体水平分析

目的：检测甲状腺功能和自身抗体与慢性荨麻疹发病及病情严重性的相关性。方法：收集91例慢性荨麻疹患者和78例健康志愿者的临床资料,用直接化学发光法测定血清中慢性荨麻疹患者及健康志愿者甲状腺功能及TGAb、TPOAb自身抗体。结果：慢性荨麻疹患者甲状腺自身抗体阳性率分别为13.19%及15.38%,明显高于健康对照组的2.56%及10.26%,差异有统计学意义（P <0.05）。甲状腺功能异常者较功能正常者风团每日发作频率高（P <0.05）。结论：甲状腺自身免疫的异常可能与慢性荨麻疹的发病有关,甲状腺功能可能与慢性荨麻疹的发作频率相关     

Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of fexofenadine in the management of chronic idiopathic urticaria: a prospective study with 512 patients

Five hundred and twelve patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) were treated with fexofenadine at a dose on 180 mg/day. Maximum number of patients were between 20 to 40 years of age and female to male ratio was 1.45:1. The severity of itching was calculated on a scale of 0 to 4 and was recorded by the patients. The mean daily total symptom score (TSS) was measured as sum of the patients' pruritus and number of wheal scores (0 to 7). A mean TSS was determined for each week. Baseline TSS came down to '0' by 4 weeks in all groups except those with TSS 4. There was no correlation between the baseline TSS and degree of improvement. Of 512, 14 (2.73%) patients did not complete the study. The commonest adverse effect was headache (9.04%). There was no report of drowsiness or cardiac arrhythmia. In no patient fexofenadine had to be withdrawn because of its adverse effects.     

Tacrolimus in the treatment of severe chronic idiopathic urticaria: an open-label prospective study

We report the result of a pilot study of low-dose tacrolimus for the treatment of patients with severe chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU). Nineteen patients with severe CIU were treated with tacrolimus for 12 weeks. Two patients dropped out after 1 week of treatment because of side effects. Following 3 months of treatment, 12 of 17 patients (70.5%) had a clinical response to tacrolimus. In 9 patients, the urticaria had been improved significantly (urticarial score 0-1), enabling them to discontinue antihistamines and, in the case of two patients, corticosteroids. The remaining 3 patients had moderate improvement (urticarial score 2). Three months after the discontinuation of tacrolimus, 3 of 10 responders had a complete resolution of their urticaria (urticarial score 0), 3 had mild deterioration (urticarial score 1-2) controllable by antihistamines alone, and 4 patients had a full relapse (urticarial score 3). Our preliminary results suggest tacrolimus as a treatment option for patients with severe CIU.     

Gallstones at chronic spontaneous urticaria patients: A retrospective clinical study

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease can be triggered by many factors such as inflammatory process. To assess accompanying gallstone in CSU patients and to evaluate laboratory test results. We retrospectivelyscanned the files of the 108 patients with CSU who had been diagnosed CSU in September 2017–September 2019. Accompanied gallstone cases by detecting transabdominal ultrasound (TUS) or were 11 patients. Nine patients had also had cholecystectomy history. We seperated these 20 patients as Group A than the rest. WBC count is 9.38 ± 2.37 in Group A and 8.03 ± 2.04 in Group B. Platelet count was also differ between two groups significantly (Group A = 328.70 ± 85.62 × 10³/mm³ vs. Group B = 287.12 ± 72.77 × 10³/mm³). Neutrophil count was more in Group A (5.87 ± 1.65) than Group B (4.76 ± 1.75). Gallstone history of family was significantly higher in Group A (n = 12 positive/8 negative) than Group B. These findings were significant statistically p < .05. CSU can be associated with inflammation and gallstones. It is needed to perform further investigations to detect these relations and pathways.     

慢性荨麻疹患者甲状腺自身抗体测定及自体血清皮肤试验的意义

目的 :　探讨慢性荨麻疹患者甲状腺自身抗体及自体血清皮肤试验的意义。方法 :　采用放射免疫法 ,对 6 0例慢性荨麻疹患者的甲状腺激素自身抗体及功能进行检测 ;对甲状腺自身抗体阳性的慢性荨麻疹患者进行自体血清皮肤试验。结果 :　 6 0例慢性荨麻疹患者中甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体及促甲状腺受体自身抗体的阳性率分别为 2 1.7% (13 6 0 )和 15 % (9 6 0 ) ,均显著高于正常对照组 (P均 <0 .0 1)。 13例甲状腺自身抗体阳性的慢性荨麻疹患者自体血清皮肤试验 7例 (5 3.8% )阳性 ,显著高于自身抗体阴性对照组 (P <0 .0 1)。结论 :　甲状腺自身抗体的测定及自体血清皮肤试验对自身免疫性慢性荨麻疹有一定的诊断意义     

慢性荨麻疹患者甲状腺自身抗体检出情况及其临床特征研究

目的 探讨伴有甲状腺自身抗体阳性的慢性荨麻疹患者临床与血清学特点.方法 2016年1-12月,杭州市第三人民医院皮肤科70例慢性荨麻疹住院患者,依据是否伴有甲状腺自身抗体进行分组.对比两组患者的荨麻疹临床表现、自身皮肤血清试验结果、住院天数、出院转归、血常规、抗体、血清总IgE和IgG.结果 70例慢性荨麻疹患者中有26例(37.1％)伴有甲状腺自身抗体阳性,44例(62.9％)甲状腺自身抗体阴性.甲状腺自身抗体阳性的慢性荨麻疹患者较甲状腺自身抗体阴性组风团更大,瘙痒更剧烈(z=4.399,P＜0.001)、持续时间更长(z=4.43,P＜0.001)、发作频率更高(z=7.362,P＜0.001)、更易伴发系统症状(x2=7.068,P＜0.05)、自身皮肤血清试验阳性率更高(x2=6.559,P＜0.05)、住院时间更长(t=3.184,P＜0.05)、出院时痊愈率更低(x2=5.524,P＜0.05)、嗜碱性粒细胞数量更低(t=3.19,P＜0.05).结论 伴有甲状腺自身抗体阳性的慢性荨麻疹患者多表现为病情较重的荨麻疹,多伴有自身皮肤血清试验阳性和嗜碱性粒细胞水平降低.