Chinese Journal of Dermatology ›› 2023, Vol. 56 ›› Issue (6): 496-503.doi: 10.35541/cjd.20220791

• Original Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Clinical analysis of allergen reactivity and atopic disease history in 168 patients with chronic inducible urticaria

Chen Qiquan, Kong Minmin, Yang Xianjie, Wang Huan, Li Jian, Zhang Mingwang, Song Zhiqiang   

  1. Department of Dermatology, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400036, China
  • Received:2022-11-09 Revised:2023-02-01 Online:2023-06-15 Published:2023-06-05
  • Contact: Song Zhiqiang E-mail:drsongzq@hotmail.com
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(82003359)

Abstract: 【Abstract】 Objective To analyze the relationship between allergen reactivity, atopic disease history and clinical features in patients with chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data and follow-up results from 168 patients with CIndU in the Department of Dermatology, Southwest Hospital of Army Medical University from June 2014 to June 2015. Associations were analyzed between allergen reactivity, atopic disease history and clinical characteristics (including patient global assessment [PGA] scores, pruritus intensity, dermatology life quality index [DLQI], proportions of cases with complicated angioedema, natural course, etc.) in patients with different CIndU subtypes. Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results Among the 168 patients with CIndU, 117 were diagnosed with symptomatic dermographism (SD), 32 with cold contact urticaria (CCU), 5 with heat contact urticaria (HCU), and 14 with cholinergic urticaria (CholU); there were 46 (39.3%), 14 (43.8%), 3, and 9 patients with positive skin prick test (SPT) among the patients with SD, CCU, HCU and CholU respectively, and no significant difference was observed in the positive rate of SPT among patients with different CIndU subtypes (χ2 = 3.86, P = 0.283). The SPT-positive CIndU patients showed significantly increased PGA scores, pruritus scores, DLQI scores and proportions of cases with complicated angioedema compared with the SPT-negative patients (all P<0.05); the CIndU patients with a personal or family history of atopic diseases also showed significantly increased PGA and DLQI scores compared with those without (both P < 0.05). For different CIndU subtypes, the pruritus scores, PGA scores, DLQI scores, and proportions of cases with complicated angioedema were significantly higher in the SPT-positive SD patients than in the SPT-negative SD patients (all P < 0.05); the DLQI scores were significantly higher in the SPT-positive CholU patients than in the SPT-negative CholU patients (Z = -2.28, P = 0.019); the pruritus scores were significantly higher in the CCU patients with a personal or family history of atopic diseases than in those without (Z = -2.41, P = 0.022). Conclusion The allergen reactivity and atopic disease history of CIndU patients were associated with disease severity, pruritus intensity, quality of life, and the proportion of cases with complicated angioedema, but their relationship with the natural course of CIndU needs to be confirmed by further studies.

Key words: Urticaria, Chronic inducible urticaria, Atopy, Skin prick test