Reactivity to Autologous Serum Skin Test and Clinical Features in Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Although the pathogenesis of chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) has not yet been fully elucidated, previous studies have identified functional, histamine-releasing autoantibodies against either alpha subunit of the high affinity IgE receptor (Fc epsilon RI alpha) or IgE in the serum of some patients with CIU. Therefore an autologous serum skin test (ASST) can be used as a predictive clinical test to determine the presence of circulating histamine-releasing factors in the serum of CIU patients, and there are some reports stating that patients with positive ASST tend to have more severe symptoms of urticaria than patients with a negative result. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to determine the incidence of positive ASST in CIU patients and examine whether there are significant differences in the clinical features and laboratory findings between groups of positive and negative responses to ASST. METHOD: We prospectively performed ASST and laboratory tests on 70 patients with CIU, and also checked clinical features. RESULTS: Intradermal injection of autologous serum or plasma induced a wheal and flare response in 44 out of 70 CIU patients (62.9%). However, no significant difference in the clinical features and laboratory findings, other than angioedema, was noted between ASST-positive and negative groups. CONCLUSION: According to our results, the incidence of positive ASST was high in CIU patients, but ASST is not helpful to predict the severity or clinical course of CIU.