Urticaria-Inducing Activity with Thyroid Antibodies and Stimulating Hormone

1) Chronic urticaria (CU) is a common and complex dermatological condition that is suspected when patients experience persistent hives for over 6 weeks. No published evidence of an exogenous allergen as the cause of this disorder exists. About 45 percent of cases have autoantibodies directed against either basophil or mast cell-associated IgE or the high-affinity IgE-Fc receptor (Fc epsilon R1 alpha) (Clin Exp Allergy 2009; 39: 777-87).

2) The presence of histamine-releasing factors (including but not limited to IgE and Fc epsilon R1 alpha-specific autoantibodies) in the patient serum can be indirectly determined by evaluating basophil/mast cell activation status using histamine-release assays, autologous serum-skin test, and flow cytometric measurement of the basophil and mast cell-specific marker CD203c. Serum from CU patients can activate donor basophils, which induces histamine release and CD203c upregulation (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2006; 117: 1430-4).