RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of urticaria and angioedema induced by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is still obscure. We analyzed the clinical characteristics of patients with NSAIDs-induced urticaria and angioedema without asthma in Japan. METHODS: We retrospectively collected the cases of NSAIDs-induced urticaria and angioedema from Japanese medical journals in 2000-2009. RESULTS: Seventy-six patients were analyzed. The male/female ratio was 1:2.5 and the mean age was 38.1 years. Urticaria was most frequent clinical manifestation in 3 groups; urticaria alone, urticaria and angioedema, and angioedema alone. Time interval from drug administration to onset was 5 minutes to 48 hours by aspirin at a dose of 25-1000 mg. Skin prick test was performed with aspirin in 33 patients, and the results were negative in all patients. Meloxicam, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, and celecoxib, a new selective COX-2 inhibitor, were administered safely in 4 of 6 patients and in 2 of 3 patients with NSAIDs-induced urticaria, respectively. These drugs were administered safely in all administered patients with NSAIDs-induced angioedema. Tiaramidehydrochroride (a basic COX-1 inhibitor) was safely used in 23 administered patients with NSAIDs-induced angioedema. Leukotriene receptor antagonists were effective in 2 of 5 patients administered, but aggravated symptoms in the others. CONCLUSION: Diversity of NSAIDs-induced urticaria and angioedema was shown in this study. Pathogenesis of NSAIDs-induced urticaria and angioedema without asthma seems to be different from that of NSAIDs-induced asthma.