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Query: UMLS:C0042109 (urticaria)
 6,569 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We present two patients with a history of chronic idiopathic urticaria occurring in conjunction with a panic disorder (DSM-IIIR), in whom both the urticaria and panic disorder responded favorably to a course of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants fluoxetine and sertraline, respectively. Both patients had previously required systemic corticosteroids to manage their urticaria. Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by the presence of recurrent unexpected panic attacks. Serotoninergic mechanisms play an important role in panic disorder. In contrast to antidepressants such as doxepin, which have previously been found to be effective in the treatment of chronic urticaria, the newer selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants are only weakly antihistaminic and anticholinergic. The response of both the urticaria and panic disorder to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants may suggest a common pathogenic factor involving serotoninergic mechanisms.
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PMID:Chronic idiopathic urticaria associated with panic disorder: a syndrome responsive to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants? 755 4

Idiopathic anaphylaxis (IA) is defined as anaphylaxis without any identifiable precipitating agent or event. The clinical manifestations of IA are the same as allergen-associated (immunologic) anaphylaxis and include urticaria, angioedema, hypotension, tachycardia, wheezing, stridor, pruritus, nausea, vomiting, flushing, diarrhea, dysphagia, light-headedness, and loss of consciousness. Patients usually tend to have the same manifestations on repeated episodes. IA is a prednisone-responsive disease that is ultimately a diagnosis of exclusion. Approximately 40% of patients are atopic. Serum tryptase (or urine histamine or its metabolite) will be elevated acutely but if elevated in the absence of anaphylaxis, should suggest alternative diagnoses including indolent systemic mastocytosis. A focused history, examination, and follow-up will dictate whether a patient's symptoms may be attributable to disorders that mimic anaphylaxis, such as indolent systemic mastocytosis, carcinoid syndrome, pheochromocytoma, hereditary angioedema acquired C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency, or panic attacks. The presence of urticaria may help limit the differential because they do not usually accompany any of the aforementioned disorders, except for indolent systemic mastocytosis. IA is classified according to the symptoms as well as the frequency of attacks. Patients who experience six or more episodes in a year or two or more episodes in 2 months are classified as IA-frequent (IA-F). Patients who experience fewer episodes are classified as IA-infrequent (IA-I). This distinction is important because IA-F patients initially will require prednisone as disease-modifying therapy whereas most IA-I patients will not. Patients with IA must carry and know when and how to self-administer epinephrine.
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PMID:Chapter 25: Idiopathic anaphylaxis. 2279 98

Idiopathic anaphylaxis (IA) is defined as anaphylaxis without any identifiable precipitating agent or event. The clinical manifestations of IA are the same as allergen-associated (immunologic) anaphylaxis and include urticaria, angioedema, hypotension, tachycardia, wheezing, stridor, pruritus, nausea, vomiting, flushing, diarrhea, dysphagia, light-headedness, and loss of consciousness. Patients usually tend to have the same manifestations on repeated episodes. IA is a prednisone-responsive disease that is ultimately a diagnosis of exclusion. Approximately 40% of patients are atopic. Serum tryptase (or urine histamine or its metabolite) will be elevated acutely, but, if elevated in the absence of anaphylaxis, should suggest alternative diagnoses, including indolent systemic mastocytosis. A focused history, examination, and follow-up will dictate whether a patient's symptoms may be attributable to disorders that mimic anaphylaxis, such as indolent systemic mastocytosis, carcinoid syndrome, pheochromocytoma, hereditary angioedema or acquired C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency, or panic attacks. The presence of urticaria may help limit the differential diagnosis because urticaria does not usually accompany any of the above-mentioned disorders, except for indolent systemic mastocytosis. IA is classified according to the symptoms as well as the frequency of attacks. Patients who experience six or more episodes in a year, or two or more episodes in 2 months are classified as having IA-frequent (IA-F). Patients who experience fewer episodes are classified as having IA-infrequent (IA-I). This distinction is important because patients with IA-F will initially require prednisone as disease-modifying therapy, whereas most patients who with IA-I will not require prednisone. Patients with IA must carry and know when and how to self-administer epinephrine.
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PMID:Idiopathic anaphylaxis. 3169 Mar 94