Review of Physical Urticarias and Testing Methods.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review aims to update the information available on the prevalence, clinical picture, diagnostic methods, and treatment of urticarias induced by external physical stimuli. RECENT FINDINGS: Physical urticarias are present in up to 5% of the general population, and in 10 to 50% of patients with chronic urticaria. Recent investigations have provided evidence that the presence of physical urticaria alone or when comorbid with chronic spontaneous urticaria is associated with a worse prognosis and duration. Most frequent subtypes of physical urticaria are dermographism and delayed pressure urticaria. The diagnosis is established through specific provocation tests and the management encompasses avoidance measures, pharmacologic therapy with nonsedating antihistamines, and alternative medications in refractory cases.

[Urticaria in children attending allergy services]. / Urticaria en niños atendidos en servicios de alergología.

BACKGROUND: There is little information on urticaria occurring in children, especially in limited resource countries. OBJECTIVE: To determine the demographic and clinical features of urticaria in children living in a developing country. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A prospective study was done in children from two allergy outpatient clinics were prospectively studied. Clinical data was obtained from the medical history and physical examination. Laboratory evaluations and immediate-type skin tests with food and aeroallergen extracts were done in selected cases. Urticaria subtypes were defined according to current EAACI/GA²LEN/WAO guidelines. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-three subjects were studied, 71 with acute urticaria and 52 with chronic urticaria. In patients with chronic urticaria, but not in those with acute urticaria, there was a significant predominance of girls. Triggers of urticaria were more common in acute than in chronic urticaria. Insects, foods, and drugs were the most common inducers of symptoms in acute urticaria, while urticaria induced by skin pressure was referred more often in chronic urticaria. In patients with acute or chronic urticaria there was a higher involvement of the head, upper and lower limbs. In patients with chronic urticaria, generalized urticaria, angioedema, and wheals on pressure sites were more frequent than in patients with acute urticaria. Spontaneous, papular, drug-induced, and dermographic urticaria were the most common subtypes in both groups of children. CONCLUSIONS: In children attending allergy services, acute urticaria was more frequent than the chronic type. Symptom triggers were different in acute than in chronic urticaria. Most common subtypes were spontaneous, papular, drug-induced, and dermographic urticaria.

ANTECEDENTES: existe poca información de la urticaria infantil, especialmente en los países en vías de desarrollo. OBJETIVOS: determinar las características demográficas y clínicas de la urticaria que afecta a niños que viven en un país en vías de desarrollo. PACIENTES Y MÉTODO: estudio prospectivo con niños no seleccionados de consultas ambulatorias. La información clínica se obtuvo mediante interrogatorio y examen físico. Se realizaron evaluaciones de laboratorio y pruebas cutáneas de tipo inmediato con alimentos y aeroalergenos en casos seleccionados. Los subtipos de urticaria se definieron de acuerdo con los lineamientos de EAACI/GA(2)LEN/WAO. RESULTADOS: se incluyeron 123 sujetos, 71 con urticaria aguda y 52 con urticaria crónica; en estos últimos predominó el sexo femenino. Los desencadenantes de urticaria se observaron con mayor frecuencia en la urticaria aguda que en la crónica. Insectos, alimentos y medicamentos fueron los más comunes en el tipo agudo. La urticaria inducida por presión ocurrió más en el tipo crónico. En ambos grupos hubo mayor afectación de la cabeza y las extremidades. Los pacientes con urticaria crónica sufrieron más urticaria generalizada, angioedema y habones en los sitios de presión. Los subtipos más comunes en ambos grupos fueron la urticaria espontánea, la papular, la inducida por medicamentos y la dermográfica. CONCLUSIÓN: en niños atendidos en los servicios de alergología, la urticaria aguda es más frecuente que la crónica. Los desencadenantes de los síntomas son diferentes en cada tipo de urticaria. Los subtipos más comunes son: urticaria espontánea, papular, inducida por medicamentos y dermográfica.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angioedema.

PURPOSE: To investigate the incidence and clinical characteristics of angioedema associated with the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) in an outpatient allergy department. METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records of new patients seen in an allergy clinic. Demographic and clinical data of patients with ACEI-induced angioedema were analyzed. RESULTS: Nine (0.37%) out of 2,421 new patients attending the allergy clinic developed ACEI-associated angioedema. Enalapril was the drug most frequently incriminated. The onset of the angioedema was as early as after the first dose or as late as 2 years after beginning treatment. Six patients experienced life-threatening angioedema involving the tongue, oropharynx, or larynx, and two patients required transfer to the intensive care unit. One patient required a tracheostomy. CONCLUSIONS: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor treatment is often responsible for angioedema, especially involving the upper airways. Due to the high proportion of the population exposed to ACEIs and to the severity of this adverse effect, it is important that physicians consider ACEIs as possible inducers when evaluating patients with acute or recurrent angioedema.

Hypersensitivity Reactions to Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs: An Update.

After beta lactam antibiotics, hypersensitivity reactions to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs are the second cause of hypersensitivity to drugs. Acute manifestations affect the respiratory tract (aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease), the skin (urticaria and angioedema), or are generalized (anaphylaxis). Correct diagnosis and treatment in order to prevent unnecessary morbidity and the potential risk of death from these severe reactions, and to provide proper medical advice on future drug use frequently requires the participation of allergology specialists familiar with these clinical conditions.

Manifestaciones dermatológicas en pacientes transplantados renales / Dermatologic manifestations in renal transplanted patients

Se revisaron las historias clínicas de 121 pacientes transplantados renales desde un punto de vista clínico, sobre las afecciones dermatológicas que ellos presentaron después del transplante renal. La mayoría de estas estuvieron relacionadas con la inmunosupresión a que son sometidos estos pacientes. Ninguno de nuestros pacientes presentó neoplasias cutáneas frecuentes en este tipo de pacientes. Pensamos que los dermatólogos que trabajan en hospitales donde puedan evaluar pacientes similares deben pensar en las entidades que ellos presentan con mayor frecuencia