Chronic ordinary urticaria:  A Clinicoepidemiological Study in Iraqi Patients

Prof. Hayder R. Al–Hamami; Prof. Sabeeh A. Al–Mashaddani; Prof. Basman M. Fadheel; Dr. Ammar A. Al–Itabi

Volume : V, Issue : VI, June - 2016

Chronic ordinary urticaria: A Clinicoepidemiological Study in Iraqi Patients

Prof. Hayder R. Al Hamami, Prof. Sabeeh A. Al Mashaddani, Prof. Basman M. Fadheel, Dr. Ammar A. Al Itabi

Abstract :

 Background: Chronic ordinary urticaria is a fairly common disorder. A diversity of factors and causes may contribute in their provocation. Objectives: To evaluate the clinical and epidemiological aspects of chronic ordinary urticaria, and to estimate the frequency of causes of this problem among Iraqi patients. Patients and Methods: Sixty one patients having chronic ordinary urticaria, 43 females and 18 males had been recruited from the out patient clinic Department of dermatology and venereology Baghdad Hospital, Baghdad. History and physical examination were performed. All patients were sent for laboratory investigations to evaluate the causes of urticaria. Results: A total of 61 patients with chronic ordinary urticaria, (70.5%) were females and (29.5%) were males. Their ages ranged from 13–65 years with a mean + SD 36.38 + 14.90 years. Depending upon the various provoking factors and the presence of circulating auto antibodies, patients were divided into three subgroups; chronic idiopathic urticaria (50.8%) patients, chronic urticaria with autoimmune bases(autoimmune urticaria) (27.9%) patients, of which anti–Helicobacter pylori antibodies were found in (19.7%) patients (two patients of this subgroup had also insulin dependant diabetes mellitus, and other two patients had also vitiligo which constituted (33.3%) out 12 patients). Antithyroid autoantibodies were found in (8.2%) patients; without thyroid diseases in (4.91%) patients, and with thyroid disease (hypothyroidism) in (3.3%) patients. Chronic urticaria with potential provoking factors (21.3%) patients. Forty seven (77.0%) patients with chronic ordinary urticaria had also angioedema (ordinary acquired angioedema). Different types of physical urticarias occurred in (73.8%) patients. Conclusion: 50.8% of chronic ordinary urticaria patients were idiopathic, 27.9% with autoimmune bases and the remaining were with potential provoking factors . Full history taking remains the first most essential step to find the types and causes of chronic ordinary urticaria (as all patients with identified causes were symptomatic in this study).