RESUMEN
Urticaria is a condition in which itchy red bumps or wheals appear on the skin unexpectedly. There are two main types ,acute condition which last for up to six weeks while chronic idiopathic urticaria [CIU] last for more than six weeks. There are multiple factors in causation of chronic idiopathic urticaria [CIU] and therefore association with elevated thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH] was evaluated in this study. Prospective case control. Department of Physiology Dow University of Health Sciences Karachi. December 2004 to January 2006. A total number of ninety subjects/patients were enrolled. They were divided in three groups having 30 subjects/ patients in each group. Group A consist of diagnosed cases of chronic urticaria. Group B consist of diagnosed cases of hypothyroidism and group C consist of age and sex matched healthy subjects. In all selected patients/subjects, serum antithyroid autoantibodies and thyroid profile [serum TSH, T3 and T4], complete blood count, IgE levels, ESR were done. All patients were selected from dermatology and medical units of civil hospital, Agha Khan Hospital, JPMC and community health clinics in Karachi. Out of 90 patients, 47[78%] were found to have chronic urticaria compared to control. Out of 47 patients, serum TSH [thyroid stimulating hormone] was found to be elevated in 20[42.6%] patients with or without hypothyroidism compared to control group.[P <0.001] Statistically significant association was found between elevated serum TSH and chronic urticaria symptoms