Ann Dermatol.  2020 Feb;32(1):38-46. 10.5021/ad.2020.32.1.38.

Natural History of Chronic Urticaria in Korea

• Chung BY
• Um JY
• Kang SY
• Kim HO
• Park CW

• KMID: 2467199
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2020.32.1.38

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Data on the natural history and prognostic variables of chronic urticaria (CU) are rare and information about spontaneous remission of CU is limited.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the natural history of CU and identified predictors for remission.
METHODS
Total 329 Korean patients with CU, who had follow-ups more than 6 months after diagnosis during a 7-year period in the department of dermatology in three university hospitals were enrolled. Clinical data and laboratory findings obtained by medical records and telephone interviews were analyzed, retrospectively.
RESULTS
The proportion recovered in 1, 3, and 5 years after the onset of CU was 10.8%, 18.8%, and 32.9%, respectively. The mean duration of CU was 6.3 years. There were no significant differences in median recovery time depending on sex, age group, severity of CU, and type of CU. The presence of angioedema was significantly related to CU severity. There were no differences in prognosis with respect to the presence of dermographism or angioedema. Patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) had a significantly worse prognosis than patients without a history of AD; but not in patients with the history of allergic rhinitis or asthma. Patients with abnormal laboratory findings did not differ significantly in prognosis.
CONCLUSION
CU remission rate significantly differ according to the presence of AD. This study provides information about the natural course of CU of Korean patients.

Keyword

Epidemiology; Prognosis; Remission; Urticaria

MeSH Terms

Angioedema
Asthma
Dermatitis, Atopic
Dermatology
Diagnosis
Epidemiology
Follow-Up Studies
Hospitals, University
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Korea*
Medical Records
Natural History*
Prognosis
Remission, Spontaneous
Retrospective Studies
Rhinitis, Allergic
Urticaria*

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Time to remission in patients with chronic urticarial (CU; median months to resolution). (A) The whole group. (B) By sex (p=0.098). (C) By age group (age <18 or ≥18, p=0.929). (D) By age group (age <60 or ≥60, p=0.879). (E) By severity of CU (p=0.489). (F) By subtype of CU (p=0.662).

• 

  Fig. 2 Time to remission in patients with chronic urticarial (CU) who have dermographism or angioedema. (A) By the presence of dermographism (p=0.368). (B) By the presence of angioedema (p=0.573).

• 

  Fig. 3 Time to remission in patients with chronic urticarial (CU) who have a history of atopy (median months to resolution). (A) Depending on the history of atopic dermatitis (p=0.026). (B) Depending on the history of allergic rhinitis (p=0.177). (C) Depending on the history of asthma (p=0.791).

• 

  Fig. 4 Time to remission in patients with CU who have abnormal laboratory results. (A) Eosinophils >4% (p=0.764). (B) Total immunoglobulin E (IgE) >100 IU/ml (p=0.734). (C) White blood cells (WBC) >10,000 (p=0.421).

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