Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0042109 (urticaria)
 6,569 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A double-blind study was carried out to investigate the possibility of therapeutic effect of levamisole on recurrent progenital herpes. One hundred and nine patients, including 53 females, entered the study, but only 75 completed. Levamisole, 50 mg three times daily for 3 days, was started at the first sign of recurrence. The study period consisted of 6 visits or 12 months, whichever came first. No statistical differences were observed between levamisole and placebo groups when comparing the duration of the lesion and the degree of pain, although less pain was observed among those on levamisole. The interval between attacks was increasingly prolonged in the levamisole-treated group, and reached a significant level at the sixth visit. However, analysis on the basis of mean cumulative number of days between attacks showed no significant differences throughout the study period. Because of occasional neutropenia and generalized urticaria, and because of the absence of clear-cut clinical improvement of statistical significance, levamisole was considered of limited benefit to patients with recurrent genital herpes infection.
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PMID:Treatment with levamisole of recurrent herpes genitalis. 20 62

The focus of this study on coital allergy is on discussing the basis for and clinical implications of the immunological reactions that mediate allergic reactions to semen. Allergic reactions to antigens in seminal plasma occur in the case of acute systemic hypersensitivity (ACH), localized postcoital allergic seminal vulvovaginitis, and/or hypersensitivity to exogenous allergens in semen. In the few cases (30 cases at present), ACH may manifest itself in generalized urticaria, orbital and vulval edema, vulval and generalized pruritus, bronchospasm, lower abdominal pain, hypotension, and loss of consciousness. There may be a family history of atopy. Symptoms may appear over months or years before reaching a severe level. The usual case is the appearance after the 1st coital act or after a change in coital, genital, or reproductive occasions. It is not specific to a particular male partner. It may be self-limiting. Condom usage or abstinence may lead to abatement. Localized vulvovaginitis may occur simultaneously with ACH or exist alone. The symptoms are local pruritus, burning, swelling, erythema, and urticaria in varying degrees for up to a week and occur during or after coitus. Douching or vulval irrigations may ameliorate symptoms. Misdiagnosis as genital herpes or infective vulvovaginitis may occur in mild cases. Exogenous allergens derived from drugs, food, and other sources presenting in the semen may contribute to hypersensitivity. This is different from reactions to intrinsic components of seminal plasma. Vaginal exposure to chemical products such as soaps or to airborne particles such as pollen may produce allergic responses. Another possibility is that genital candidiasis may produce local Ige antibodies, and PGE2 induced suppression of cell-mediated immunity. The immunological mechanisms are described as type I hypersensitivity reactions with the antigen reacting with reaginic antibodies of the Ige class which are bound to mast cell or circulating basophils. The antigens and the immune reactions are specified. In the clinical diagnosis, the rare acute systemic form is obvious, but the atypical, recurrent, and intractable forms of vulvovaginitis require investigation with skin tests. Treatment may involve artificial insemination for those seeking pregnancy, immunotherapy, or antihistamines, rather than use of a condom or abstinence.
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PMID:Allergy to coitus. 168

The presence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and/or herpes antigens was investigated by indirect immunofluorescence (IF) reactions in exfoliated cells or biopsy specimens from 43 patients with different skin diseases (treatment-resistant cutaneous herpes, genital herpes, acne, urticaria, dermatitis, erythema multiforme, ecthyma contagiosum). Either M. pneumoniae or herpes antigen could be detected in 21 (55.26%) and 12 (31.57%) of the 38 IF-positive cases, respectively, while the associated occurrence of mycoplasma and herpes antigens was observed in 5 (13.15%) of the patients.
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PMID:Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection detected by immunofluorescence in patients with certain skin diseases. 633 Sep 75

The role of infectious agents as a cause of chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) is uncertain. The objective of this study was to investigate whether genital herpes simplex infection is causally related to CIU. We identified two patients with recurrent genital herpes simplex infections associated with CIU. Episodes of genital herpes were especially associated with acute exacerbation of urticaria. Anti-herpes simplex 2 antibodies and Tzanck smears were done in both patients, along with other relevant investigations for CIU. Acyclovir was added to antihistamine therapy. Both patients were apparently in good health and appeared clinically immunologically stable, though one of them was found to be diabetic. Clinical and laboratory investigations for genital lesions supported a diagnosis of herpes simplex. Anti-herpes simplex 2 antibodies were markedly raised in both patients. The Tzanck smear was positive in one case and negative in the other, despite a definitive clinical diagnosis of herpes progenitalis. CIU, which was inadequately controlled with antihistamines alone, responded dramatically to the addition of acyclovir therapy. Our results may not be applicable to other patients with CIU, especially when there is inadequate evidence of an association with genital herpes. CIU may be associated with recurrent genital herpes simplex infection. In such situations, the addition of acyclovir to therapy may be beneficial.
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PMID:Chronic urticaria associated with recurrent genital herpes simplex infection and success of antiviral therapy--a report of two cases. 1969 70

Dermatitis herpetiformis is a rare, chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by intense pruritic papules and vesicles, which can be associated with celiac disease and other autoimmune disorders. Its histologic characteristic is the accumulation of neutrophils within the papillary dermis with granular deposition of immunoglobulin A (IgA) observed under direct immunofluorescence. Herein, we report a 58-year-old woman who presented with a vesicular rash on the buttocks. The patient reported a recent history of genital herpes, Entamoeba histolytica colitis, recurrent hives, and eczema. A representative biopsy demonstrated features of spongiotic dermatitis and focal papillary dermal neutrophilic aggregates. Direct immunofluorescence revealed fibrillary IgA deposition in the papillary dermis, granular C3 deposition at the dermal-epidermal junction, and dermal papillae. The overall clinical, histologic, and DIF findings were consistent with those of dermatitis herpetiformis. The fibrillar IgA pattern is rare and easily overlooked by the unwary. Pathologists should be aware of this rare pattern, especially when the histologic findings are not classic.
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PMID:A Case of Dermatitis Herpetiformis With Fibrillar Immunoglobulin A Deposition: A Rare Pattern Not to Be Missed. 3083 42