Increased urinary excretion of the histamine metabolite N tau-methylhistamine during acetylsalicylic acid provocation in chronic urticaria patients.

Seventeen chronic urticaria patients with a history suggestive of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, Aspirin)-intolerance were challenged with ASA; only 2 patients showed marked clinical reactions. These clinical reactions were accompanied by a significant increase in the urinary excretion of the most important histamine metabolite, N tau-methylhistamine, in comparison with 15 non-responders (p less than or equal to 0.05) and placebo test.

Water vapour loss threshold and induction of cholinergic urticaria.

A patient is described with cholinergic urticaria (CU) in whom the symptoms could be provoked by gustatory stimuli. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a threshold of sweating (monitored by skin water vapour loss (SVL) measurements) at which CU can be provoked. Provocations with lemon and sal-ammoniac liquorice induced transient sweating differing both in degree and duration.

Elevated levels of squamous cell carcinoma antigen in patients with a benign disease of the skin.

Squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC), formerly referred to as TA-4, is a tumor marker for SCC of the uterine cervix. Based on the findings in a patient with complete remission after treatment for cervical carcinoma, the authors decided to analyze the sera from patients with benign dermatoses. It was found that 83% (25/30) of the patients with psoriasis and 80% (12/15) of the patients with eczema had SCC levels in excess of the cut-off value of 2.

Pemphigus-like eruption induced by d-penicillamine and captopril, in the same patient.

A patient suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and hypertension is described who developed pemphigus foliaceus during simultaneous treatment with d-penicillamine and captopril. Discontinuation of the d-penicillamine afforded some improvement, but skin symptoms still persisted after 3 months. When the captopril was discontinued as well, all lesions healed within 2 weeks.

Cold urticaria and virus infections: a clinical and serological study in 39 patients.

Thirty-nine patients with cold urticaria seen over a 12-year-period were re-examined. All but 12 still had positive skin tests for cold and only five of these had shown a spontaneous cure. Fourteen patients were prone to collapse on cold exposure.

Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency and PI typing in patients with chronic urticaria.

A group of 281 patients with chronic urticaria was classified into various subtypes and compared with 357 healthy controls for PI types of alpha1-antitrypsin. Total alpha 1-antitrypsin was measured by the Mancini technique, and PI types were determined by isoelectric focusing. The MZ phenotype and the Z gene frequency were significantly more frequent in the urticaria group.

Immunohistochemical findings in a patient with penicillamine pemphigus.

This report describes the immunofluorescence (IF) findings in sequential skin biopsies and serum obtained during a follow-up study of a patient who developed pemphigus lesions after D-penicillamine treatment of arthritis. The distribution in the skin of IgG, IgM and C3 varied with the date, type and site of the biopsy sample. Thus IF patterns showed features of (a) pemphigus vulgaris, (b) pemphigus foliaceus and (c) pemphigus erythematosus.

Reactions to aspirin and food additives in patients with chronic urticaria, including the physical urticarias.

In 131 patients with chronic urticaria, including physical urticarias, oral provocation tests were done with aspirin. A total of thirty-one patients showed a reaction on aspirin challenge. Reactions were seen in 35% of patients with idiopathic urticaria, 52% of patients with cholinergic urticaria, and 43% of those with pressure urticaria.

Protease inhibitors in plasma of patients with chronic urticaria.

The hypothesis that deficiencies of plasma protease inhibitors might play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic urticaria was evaluated. Plasma levels were measured in patients with urticaria and a matched control group for alpha1-antitrypsin, alpha2-macroglobulin, total trypsin-inhibiting capacity, kallikrein-inhibiting capacity, and the complement factors C1 esterase inhibitor, C3, and C4. A total of 92 patients with chronic urticaria or more than three months' duration was studied.

A kindred with familial cold urticaria: linkage analysis.

Familial cold urticaria is an autosomal dominant hereditary disease of which seven pedigrees have been published, six from the USA and the present one from Holland. Onset is shortly after birth. The patients develop skin symptoms sometimes accompanied by fever, chills, joint symptoms, and oedema, approximately one half to three hours after generalized exposure to cold.