The clinical and laboratory characteristics of acute spontaneous urticaria and its progression to chronic spontaneous urticaria.

Background: The natural history of the progression from acute spontaneous urticaria (ASU) to chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), CSU remains poorly understood.

Objective: To identify clinical and laboratory patient attributes that may be predictive of ASU progression to CSU.

Methods: We prospectively studied consecutive adult patients (age ≥ 18 years) with a diagnosis of urticaria of <6 weeks' duration.

Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with selective immunoglobulin E deficiency.

Aim: To investigate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-infected dyspeptic patients with selective immunoglobulin E deficiency (IgEd).

Methods: All individuals who underwent serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE) measurement at the Leumit Healthcare Services (Israel) in 2012 were identified in an electronic database search (n = 18487).

Chronic idiopathic angioedema: a single center experience.

Objective: Chronic idiopathic angioedema (CIA) is defined as three or more episodes of angioedema in a period of > 6 months without a clear etiology. In the study, we tried to explore clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients with CIA unaccompanied by urticaria.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical and laboratory characteristics of 1238 patients with chronic urticaria and/or angioedema referred to our allergy clinic.

Selective IgE deficiency, immune dysregulation, and autoimmunity.

Selective IgE deficiency (IgED) is currently defined as a significant decrease in serum levels of IgE (<2 kIU/L) in a patient whose other immunoglobulin levels are normal. There are no published large-scale epidemiological studies regarding the prevalence of and clinical features of IgED. In the population-based case-control study, we investigated clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients with IgED.

Clinical and laboratory features of chronic idiopathic urticaria in the elderly.

Background: There are few data regarding epidemiology and clinical features of urticarial diseases in the elderly population.

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the clinical and laboratory characteristics of chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) in the geriatric population.

Methods: Electronic medical records of outpatient allergy consultations due to a diagnosis of CIU were retrospectively reviewed to collect demographic data, urticaria activity score, results of autologous serum skin test (ASST), and laboratory workup.

Antihistamines do not inhibit the wheal induced by the intradermal injection of autologous serum in resistant chronic idiopathic urticaria.

Some patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) are resistant to conventional doses of antihistamines (AHs). This study was designed to check whether the skin wheal and flare reaction produced by the intradermal injection of autologous serum (AS) and by histamine differs in AH-resistant and AH responder CIU patients. CIU patients with treatment failure under fexofenadine at 180 mg q.

Chronic urticaria can be triggered by eradication of Helicobacter pylori.

Background: Participation of Helicobacter pylori (HP) in the pathogenesis of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CU) is subject to dispute, although its eradication proved to be effective for some patients.

Aims: To investigate the cases of CU following eradication of HP.

Methods: The cases of patients in whom CU was diagnosed following triple therapy for HP eradication were retrospectively reviewed.

Mycoplasma pneumonia Infection: A Possible Trigger for Immune Thrombocytopenia.

Mycoplasma pneumonia (M. pneumonia) is usually not considered among the several pathogens that induce immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). We report a child with a clinical diagnosis of severe ITP that was associated with M.

Clinical and laboratory features of antihistamine-resistant chronic idiopathic urticaria.

Chronic idiopathic (spontaneous) urticaria (CIU) is sometimes resistant to the conventional and high doses of antihistamines (AHs). This study compares the clinical and laboratory characteristics of AH responsive and AH-resistant CIU subjects. Clinical and laboratory data were retrospectively collected from 385 CIU patients.

Impact of contact sensitization in chronic spontaneous urticaria.

Introduction: Patch testing is performed to diagnose allergic contact dermatitis to avoid exposure to the revealed contact allergens. Nevertheless, patch testing is not routinely performed in the evaluation of patients with chronic idiopathic (spontaneous) urticaria (CIU). The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of sensitization to patch test allergens in severe CIU and assess a role of the allergen avoidance in CIU remission.

Increased mean platelet volume and C-reactive protein levels in patients with chronic urticaria with a positive autologous serum skin test.

Introduction: Activation of the coagulation cascade resulting in thrombin production is a prominent feature of exacerbations in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CU). Autologous serum skin test (ASST) causes wheal-and-flare reactions in 30% to 50% of CU cases.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and laboratory data in patients with CU with positive and negative ASST.

Use of a homeopathic preparation for "infantile colic" and an apparent life-threatening event.

Objective: An apparent life-threatening event (ALTE) caused by ingestion of drugs or toxins has been reported rarely among infants. None of these agents was homeopathic medication. We report 11 infants who presented with an ALTE after ingestion of Gali-col Baby, a homeopathic agent indicated for "infantile colic.

Resistant arterial hypertension is associated with higher blood levels of complement C3 and C-reactive protein.

Arterial hypertension is associated with increased plasma levels of complement C3, C4, and C-reactive protein (CRP). The aim of the study was to compare these laboratory markers in patients with resistant arterial hypertension (RAH) and controlled arterial hypertension (CAH). Patients with RAH (n = 34), those with CAH (n = 34), and 26 normotensive controls were included.

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection equally improves chronic urticaria with positive and negative autologous serum skin test.

Background: The aim of the study was to examine effects of Helicobacter pylori eradication on chronic idiopathic urticaria (CU) with and without positive aulogous serum skin test (ASST).

Methods: Seventy-eight patients with CU were checked for the positivity ASST and H. pylori urea (13)C-urea breath test ((13)C-UBT).

Sensitizations to allergens of TRUE test in 864 consecutive eczema patients in Israel.

The TRUE test is a widespread diagnostic tool for initial patch testing of patients with contact dermatitis (CD). From 2002 to 2005, 864 patients with eczema were patch-tested using TRUE test in one Israeli allergology clinic. 547 (63.

Complement profile in childhood immune thrombocytopenic purpura: a prospective pilot study.

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a frequent, usually acute hematologic complication of viral diseases in children. Its evolution is usually benign with spontaneous resolution. Some authors have raised the hypothesis of a possible role of the complement system in the pathogenesis of ITP.

[The prevalence of positive allergy skin tests among children with asthma in the Ashkelon Region, Israel].

Background: Asthma is the most common chronic disease amongst children.

Objective: To find the prevalence of positive allergy skin tests amongst children having asthma attending the asthma clinic in Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon Israel.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

C7 complement deficiency in an Israeli Arab village.

Deficiencies of terminal complement components, particularly the latter ones, are often detected because of increased susceptibility to Neisserial infections. Herein we document the first report of C7 deficiency among a highly inbred Arab population living in the lower Galilee region of Israel. Both biochemical and molecular analysis were performed on samples from infected survivors and parents of children who succumbed to Neisserial infections in a 4-year period.