Background: Chronic urticaria is characterized by erythematous wheals during more than 6 weeks. In 47% of the patients it is associated to Helicobacter pylori infection; in 50%, to antibodies (Abs) against the high affinity receptor of the IgE, and in 12 to 20% to antithyroid's antibodies (antithyroglobuline, mychrosomals) and, from these, 25% have alterations of the thyroid function.
Objective: To determine the presence of the anti-Helicobacter pylori and anttihyroids antibodies and the high affinity anti-receptor of the IgE in healthy subjects and patients with chronic urticaria.
Material and methods: Eighty subjects were included: 40 healthy subjects and 40 patients whit diagnosis of chronic urticaria. In all of them a blood sample was extracted to the determination of the antibodies and skin test applications with autologous serum to determine the antibody of the high affinity anti-receptor of IgE. For the analysis of the results descriptive statistics was used (central tendency measures, frequencies, means, averages and percentages), as well as multiple correlations and inferential analyses.
Results: Anti-Helicobacter pylori, antithyroid (antithyroglobulin, microsomal) antibodies and the skin test with autologous serum (antibody of the high affinity anti-receptor of IgE) were negative in the healthy group (mean age: 41 years, 36 women, 90%). Of the 40 patients with chronic urticaria (mean age: 42 years, 36 women, 90%), the frequency of the antibody of high affinity anti-receptor of the IgE was: 5 patients with negative skin test (12.5%), 1 (2.5%)+, 7 (17.5%)++, 9 (22.5%)+++, 18 (45%)++++. The anti-Helicobacter pylori antibodies were positive in 30 (75%) patients and negative in 10 (25%). The antithyroid's antibodies were as follows: antithyroglobulin: 4 (10%) positive, microsomal: 4 (10%) positive. The concomitant diseases found were: hypothyroidism (3, 7.5%) mixed rhinitis (2.5%) and autoimmunity 2 (5%).
Conclusion: The test skin with autologous serum to determine the IgG antibody against the high affinity receptor of IgE is a simple and low-cost procedure leading to determine the cause of the idiopathic chronic urticaria in a high percentage of patients. As reported in literature, the Helicobacter pylori infection documented by the detection of the IgM antibodies against Helicobacter pylori is frequent in patients with chronic urticaria, which is important due to it could be implied in the diagnosis and treatment.