[Urticaria caused by cold. 104 cases]. / Urticaire au froid. 104 cas.

INTRODUCTION: Superficial and deep cold urticaria is a heterogeneous group of manifestations induced by exposure to cold (0 to 4 degrees C). Frequency is generally estimated at 2 to 3 p. 100. We studied retrospectively 104 patients meeting clinical, biological and therapeutic criteria of cold urticaria. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1981 to 1995, 1802 patients with urticaria were included in a standardized allergy survey. Among these patients, 104 met the criteria for the diagnosis of cold urticaria: positive test with 3 ice cubes placed on the skin for 5, 10 and 15 minutes or positive immersion test (immersion in 4 degrees C water for 15 minutes). Two groups of patients were excluded, those with systemic cold urticaria and those with minimal thermo-differential urticaria. RESULTS: Cold urticaria was found in 5.7 p. 100 of our urticaria patients, predominantly in young women. The triggering effect of cold was found at history taking in 71 p. 100 of the cases. The urticaria was usually superficial, more rarely associated with deep and/or mucosal urticaria. General signs were uncommon. The three ice cube test demonstrated significative biological and immunological abnormalities. In 5 cases, discrete cryoprecipitate was found (4 cryoglobulins, 1 cryofibrinogen). Although the search for an infectious agent was not conducted in absolutely all cases, there was no apparently remarkable association with infection the exception of VIH infection. Anti-H1 agents were given in 88.3 p. 100 of the cases leading to short-term improvement. Follow-up is insufficient to evaluate long-term outcome. DISCUSSION: This retrospective survey of 104 cases of cold urticaria was compared with data in the literature, particularly with the small number of studies including a large number of patients. We conclude that the diagnosis of cold urticaria can be based on history taking alone and the three ice cube tests (prognosis value, indication of reaction threshold). An exhaustive search for the cause is not indicated. A search for cryopathy should however always be done and followed by a complete work-up in case of positivity. Clinical signs other than cold urticaria suggesting a pathological response to cold require complete investigations.

Lymphomatoid papulosis and Hodgkin's disease: report of a case.

The authors report the case of a 67-year-old-man who presented with stage IIIAa Hodgkin's disease (HD) almost 17 years after developing CD30+ type A lymphomatoid papulosis (LP). Combination chemotherapy resulted in a complete remission of the HD for 2 years, although the LP continued relentlessly as before. A possible link between HD and LP is discussed in the light of similar cases reported in the literature.

[Physical urticaria and angioedema in children]. / Les urticaires et angio-oedèmes physiques de l'enfant.

Urticaria and physical angioedema frequency is hard to evaluate in children. In this series, we keep 53/1000. Physical urticaria is found in 36% of the cases and concerns cholinergic urticaria, urticaria to cold, idiopathic dermographism and mastocytosis, and delayed urticaria to pressure. The authors insist on the interest of the etiologic research in these forms of infantile urticaria.

[General review: classification of urticaria and angioedema]. / Revue générale: classification des urticaires et angio-oedèmes.

The authors propose a classification of urticarias and angio-oedemas according to two criteria, physiopathological and etiological. In the first group they identify three subgroups; immunological, non-immunological and idiopathological. In the second group they classify the facts into 12 sub-groups, which are detailed.

[The G.E.R.U. retrospective study of 400 cases of urticaria]. / G.E.R.U. étude rétrospective de 400 cas d'urticaire.

The authors report on a study with computerised results of 400 urticaria and/or angioedema cases, which were explored in single dermatology center (Pr. J. SAYAG) by the members of GERU. The study was managed with a computerised file and was processed with Sesame software. The figures achieved are related to semilogic and paraclinical data and to etiological factors.

[Chronic urticaria--an inventory proposed by the Urticaria Study and Research Group]. / Urticaires chroniques--proposition d'inventaire du G.E.R.U.

The Urticaria Study and Research Group (Groupe d'Etudes et de Researches de l'Urticaria, G.E.R.U.) was formed in the Dermatology Department of the Hôpital Michel Levy in 1983 and now it continues to operate in the new Dermatology Department of the C.H.U. Timone Adultes. This has been possible because in four years 400 cases of urticaria have been seen and computerized information on these will appear in the next issue. As a result of this experience, we have been able to lay out a prospective study and develop a rigorous methodology.