Etiological causes in patients with acute urticaria and angioedema

Background: Acute urticaria and angioedema are emergency dermatological conditions associated with various etiologic factors.Objective: To determine the etiological causes in patients with acute urticaria and angioedema, and to investigate whether more than one etiological cause was present, along with the patients’ laboratory values.
Methods: The study was conducted in a tertiary hospital with one center. Etiological causes and laboratory parameters in 284 patients diagnosed with acute urticaria and angioedema were retrospectively studied.
Results: A total of 284 patients were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 42.7 ± 15.6 years, where 163 (57.4%) were women and 121 (42.6%) were men. Acute urticaria and angioedema occurred together in 149 (52.5%) patients. At least one precipitating factor among the predisposing risk factors was present in 220 (77.5%) patients, and more than one precipitating factor was found in 51 (18%) patients. Medication use was found in 157 (55.3%) patients and infection in 54 (19%). The development of urticaria after food consumption was noted in nine (3.2%) individuals. A history of infection and medication intake was present in 50 (17.6%) patients. A joint history of food consumption and medication intake was present in only one patient. Elevated C-reactive protein level was found in 178 (62.7%) patients and elevated anti-streptolysin O titer in 41 (14.4%) patients. Vitamin B12 deficiency was found in 116 (40.8%) patients and vitamin D deficiency in 254 (89.4%).
Conclusion: Acute urticaria and angioedema may occur as a result of multiple etiological factors, in which different triggers may be present simultaneously..