Association of Chronic Urticaria with Rheumatic Diseases and Thyroid Autoimmunity
摘要
Autoimmunity plays a major role in the pathogenesis of chronic urticaria (CU). CU has been reported to be associated with autoimmune thyroiditis and several rheumatic diseases in the related literature. This study aims to determine the clinical and laboratory features of CU in Taiwan, and to detect the association of CU with rheumatic diseases and thyroid autoimmunity. We reviewed the medical records of 106 patients who were diagnosed with CU at Changhua Christian Hospital during the period of September 2008-August 2009. The female-to-male ratio was 2.1:1. The mean age at diagnosis was 36.5 years. Concomitant angioedema, dermographism and pressure-induced hive occurred in 23.1%, 26.7% and 68.1% of patients, respectively. Antithyroid antibodies (antithyroglobulin and/or antimicrosomal antibodies) presented in 20.6% of patients. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-SSA and anti-SSB antibodies presented in 10.4%, 7.2% and 1.4% of patients, respectively. Elevated erythrocyte sediment rate (ESR) was measured in 18.5% of patients. Twenty-eight patients (26.4%) had rheumatic diseases and/or thyroid autoimmunity. Of 16 patients with rheumatic diseases, Sjogren's syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis accounted for the majority. Patients with rheumatic diseases had higher prevalence of arthralgia (p＜0.005), ESR elevation (p＜0.05) and ANA positivity (p＜0.005) than patients without rheumatic diseases. A subgroup of CU has associations with rheumatic diseases and thyroid autoimmunity. Screen tests for autoimmune diseases in CU patients are recommended.