Clinical features of elderly chronic urticaria.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Chronic urticaria (CU) is defined as itchy wheals lasting 6

weeks or more. As the aged population increases worldwide, it is essential to

identify the specific features of this disease in the elderly population.

METHODS: We investigated the prevalence and clinical features of CU in elderly

patients. Medical records of 837 CU patients from the outpatient Allergy Clinic

of Ajou University Hospital, Korea were analyzed retrospectively. Patients with

chronic spontaneous urticaria according to the EAACI/GA2LEN/EDF/WAO guidelines

were included. Patients older than 60 years were defined as elderly. RESULTS: Of

the 837 patients, 37 (4.5%) were elderly. In elderly versus nonelderly CU

patients, the prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) was significantly higher

(37.8% vs. 21.7%, respectively; p = 0.022), while that of aspirin intolerance was

lower (18.9% vs. 43.6%, respectively; p = 0.003) in terms of comorbid conditions.

The prevalences of serum specific immunoglobulin E antibodies to staphylococcal

enterotoxin A and staphylococcal enterotoxin B were considerably higher in

elderly CU patients with AD than in those without AD (37.5% vs. 0%,

respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients with CU had a higher prevalence of

AD. Therefore, there is a need to recognize the existence of AD in elderly CU

patients.