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SELECTED ARTICLES FROM THE RECENT LITERATURE 2006
12/7/06
Acute urticaria and infectious hepatitis
Summary
Background – Acute urticaria occurs fairly commonly during the prodromic states of hepatitis A and B infection. What about other relationships between hepatitis infection and urticaria?
Findings – This subject was reviewed by Cribier of the Univ Hospital in Strasbourg, France. He pointed out that a complex presentation of urticaria, joint symptoms and sometimes headache may occur during the subsequent course of viral hepatitis. However, there is no convincing evidence that chronic urticaria (CU) is caused by viral hepatitis. Hepatitis B and C infection can occasionally induce urticarial vasculitis but this differs from CU.
Reference
Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 2006;30:25-9
Editor's Comments
The author of this review commented that there really has not been adequate controlled investigation of whether there is a significant relationship of hepatitis B infection to CU. However, he concluded that routine investigation for the presence of infectious hepatitis in all cases of CU is not cost effective.
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