Utility of routine laboratory testing in management of chronic urticaria/angioedema.
Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol
; 107(3): 239-43, 2011 Sep.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21875543
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Laboratory tests are routinely ordered to identify or rule out a cause in patients with chronic urticaria/angioedema (CUA). The results of these tests are usually within normal limits or unremarkable.OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the proportion of abnormal test results in patients with CUA leading to a change in management and in outcomes of care.METHODS:
Retrospective analysis of a random sample of adult patients with CUA from 2001-2009.RESULTS:
Cases totaled 356 166 with urticaria and angioedema (AE), 187 with urticaria, and 3 with only AE. Patients were predominately women (69.1%) and white (75.6%), with a mean age of 48 ± 15 years. Abnormalities were commonly seen in complete blood counts (34%) and in complete metabolic panels (9.4%). Among the 1,872 tests that were ordered, results of 319 (17%) were abnormal. Of 356 patients, 30 underwent further testing because of abnormalities in laboratory work. This represented 30 of 1,872 tests (1.60%). Only 1 patient benefited from a subsequent change in management.CONCLUSIONS:
Laboratory testing in CUA patients referred for an Allergy and Immunology evaluation rarely lead to changes in management resulting in improved outcomes of care.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Testes Diagnósticos de Rotina
/
Angioedema
Tipo de estudo:
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol
Assunto da revista:
ALERGIA E IMUNOLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2011
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos