Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Dermatology Diploma > Urticaria > Flashcards

Urticaria Flashcards

1
Q

What is urticaria?

A

Urticaria is a disease characterised by the development of wheals (also known as hives), angioedema or both.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What gender is more likely to get angioedema?

A

Women

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What % of the population get urticaria?

A

20%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the 3 features of wheels?

A
  • Pink or white raised areas of skin of variable size that resemble nettle stings
  • They are usually itchy
  • They have a fleeting nature with the skin returning to its normal appearance within 24 hours although the condition itself may last longer
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What takes longer to resolve: angioedema or urticaria?

A

Angiooedema - it can take up to 72 hours to resolve.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What % of patients with urticaria will also get angioedema?

A

30%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the pathophysiology of urticaria?

A
  • Degranulation of mast cell -> histamine & platelet activating factor release. -> Pruritus and vasodilation and increased permeability (leakiness) of blood vessels causing swelling and redness of the skin.
  • Cutaneous nerves stimulation may release neuropeptides, either directly onto the blood vessel or via the mast cell, which can generate the wheal and flare urticated response.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Describe the Triple Response of Lewis.

A
  1. Red spot: due to capillary dilatation
  2. Flare: redness in the surrounding area due to arteriolar dilatation mediated by axon reflex
  3. Wheal: due to exudation of fluid from capillaries and venules
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are the 3 types of Urticaria?

A
  1. Acute spontaneous urticaria (ASU) < 6 weeks.
  2. Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) > 6 weeks.
  3. Physical Urticaria
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Aprt form length of time, what is the difference between ASU and CSU?

A

ASU usually has a trigger - Drugs, Antibiotics or Food.

CSU usually has no trigger.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What physical reactions occur in ASU and CSU?

A

Spontaneous wheels +/- angioedema.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

In what age group does CSU occur in?

A

20-30 years.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What test can you do in ASU (acute spontaneous urticaria)?

A

RAST test or a Skin Prick Test

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are subtypes of physical urticaria?

A
  • Dermographism
  • Delayed Pressure urticaria
  • Cholinergic urticaria
  • Cold induced urticaria
  • Solar urticaria
  • Aquagenic urticaria
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the main management for physical urticaria?

A

Avoid the physical trigger

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Tell me about Dermographism

A
  • 10% of population have it.
  • Wheal lasts 30-60 mins.
  • Symptomatic dermographism/factitious urticaria - severe cases of dermographism.
17
Q

Tell me about delayed pressure urticaria

A
  • Due to prolonged pressure to the skin.
    • Clapping - causes the hands to swell
    • Prolonged kissing - lips can swell.
      *
18
Q

Describe cholinergic urticaria.

A
  • Micropapular urticaria that occursover the body after sweating.
  • Not actually caused by acetylcholine but by neuropeptides released from nerve endings.
19
Q

Describe cold urticaria

A
  • Urticarial response after cold response.
  • To diagnose:
    • Put ice cube on skin
    • The urticarial response will occur on Re-Warming the skin.
20
Q

Describe solar urticaria

A
  • Very rare
  • Needs to be differentiated from polymorphic light eruption.
  • Response is immediate.
  • Light form the sun causes antigenic changes to proteins which mast cells then respond to by releasing histamine.
21
Q

Describe Contact Urticaria

A
  • Very common
  • Usually due to contact with a foreign agent.
22
Q

Describe the history taking

A
  • Ask about the history of urticaria - where on the body, how long.
  • Dietary history and correlation with food
  • Medication history
  • Allergy
  • FH of atopy and urticaria
  • Any concomitant medical history (e.g. bullous pemphigoid, SLE etc)
  • Determine if angioedema+/- bronchospasm
  • Recent infection or foreign travel.
23
Q

In urticaria, what investigations should be done?

A
  • Often no further invetigation is needed.
  • Allergy avoidance
  • RAST test or prick test can be organised.
  • If CSU - no investigations are needed.
24
Q

What conditions can mimic Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (CSU)?

A
  • SLE and other connective tissue diseases
  • Bullous Pemphigoid and other immuno-bullous disorders
  • Atopic eczema / pompholyx
  • Thyroid dysfunction
  • Contact dermatitis
  • H.pylori gastritis
  • Toxic erythema (especially drug reactions)
  • Erythema multiforme
  • Viral exanthema such as measles
25
Q

Describe the Urticaria Activity Score (UAS)

A
26
Q

What is the treatment for Urticaria?

A
  • Antihistamines
    • 1st line - Cetirizine, Loratidine and Fexofenadine
    • 2nd line - Increase up to 4 times the recommended dose.
    • Use antihistamines continously at a low dose rather than PRN.
    • Can take 4 weeks to work.
    • Reduce doses every 3-6 months.
  • Steroids
    • Short courses of 20-50mg/day for 7-10 days.
  • Monteleukast - 3rd line.
  • Further therapy:
    • Ciclosporin - moderate direct effect on mast cells. Effective when used in combination with 2nd generation antihistamines.
    • Omalizumab - 400mg every 4 weeks - useful if antihistamines aren’t working.
    • Dapsone and H2-recetpor antagonists (e.g. ranitidine) - low evidence - consider as 3rd line.
27
Q

Describe the hereditary causes of angioedema without urticaria

A
  • C1-Esterase Inhibitor Deficiency - C1-INH-HAE.
  • Normal C1-Esterase Inhibitor
    • FXII mutation = Hereditary angioedema w FXII mutations - FXII-HAE.
    • Uknown cause - Hereditary Angioedema of unknown origin - U-HAE.
28
Q

Describe the causes of Acquired Angioedema without wheals.

A
  • No cause identified
    • Idiopathic histaminergic - IH-AAE.- Response to antihistamines -
    • Idiopathic non-histaminergic - InH-AAE - No response to antihistamines -
  • Acquired angioedema related to ACE-I - ACEI-AAE. - Caused by ACE-I Treatment.
  • Acquired angioedema with C1-INH deficiency - C1-INH-AAE. - C1-INH Deficiency with no family history.
29
Q

What is the most common cause of Hereditary angioedema?

A

Defect with the enzyme C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH)

  • Usually a family history.
  • Can also develop stomach cramps - due to angioedema of the guts
30
Q

What is the invetigation for hereditary angioedema (HAE)?

A
  • Measure C1-INH levels and function.
  • C4 levels are also usually low.
31
Q

What is the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 Hereditary angioedema (HAE)?

A
  • Type 1 disease - low levels of C1-INH.
  • Type 2 disease - poorly functioning.

(Note: Some patients will have a defect in the Factor XII gene)

32
Q

What is the treatment for Hereditary Angioedema (HAE)?

A
  • Emergency setting
    • Adrenaline and resuscitation.
    • Fresh frozen plasma or C1 esterase inhibitor concrete.
    • Many patients will have their own concrete in their fridge for emergency situations.
  • Long term management
    • Need a Medic Alert Bracelet.
    • Close access to C1 Esterase Inhibitor Concrete.
    • Anabolic steroids - Danazol or Stanozol.
33
Q

What is urticarial vasculitis?

A
  • Urticated rash with wheals, flare and itching.
  • Lesions last >24 hours.
  • They may resolve with purpura or bruising.
  • Systemic symptoms: joint pain, fever, abdominal pain and photosensitivity.
  • Associated with Connective Tissue Disease.
34
Q

How is urticarial vasculitis classified?

A
  • Normocomplementaemic
  • Hypocomplementaemic - Connective Tissue Disease and Systemic Symptolms are most common in this.
35
Q

How is the diagnosis of urticarial vasculitis made?

A

With a skin biopsy.

36
Q

What is the treatment for urticarial vasculitis?

A
  • Anti-histamines
  • NSAIDs
  • Recalcitrant disease - Dapsone, Colchicine, Hydroxychloroquine or a course of oral steroids.
37
Q

What is a mastocytoma?

A
  • A congregation of small individual lesions of mastocytes.
  • They urticate on rubbing (Darier’s sign)
  • Usually occur in children.
  • No pathological significance.
38
Q

What is Urticaria pigmentosa?

A
  • Widespread reddish brown macules
  • Urticate on rubbing (Darier’s sign).
  • Gradually resolve with time but will leave areas of hyperpigmentation
  • Treatment: antihistamines and sometimes PUVA. Ketotifen is sometimes used.

Dermatology Diploma (39 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions