Sunday, July 29, 2012

What We All Should Know About Chronic Urticaria

By Brian Coze


Do you know what chronic urticaria is? When we talk of chronic urticaria, we're talking about an allergic reaction. Just like other types of allergy, there are certain triggers or stimulating factors that would set it off. The reaction could be triggered by the simple foods you eat. What might be a common food item to you, might be allergic one to another person. Take nuts, for example. You may eat them on a daily basis. However, that may not be the case for others. The body has a lot of different types of immune cells such as dendritic cells, T cells, mast cells, and others. The body reacts to the entrance of new agents or antigens by producing its own 'army of soldiers' known as antibodies. When the immune system creates such a response, it might lead to allergies like chronic urticaria. It manifests through hives, wheals and some swelling and itching. Large layers of the skin are normally affected. Even the mouth and lips aren't spared.

In the pathogenesis process of chronic urticaria, the mast cell is touted to be the main agent. When these cells are stimulated by an external agent, histamines will be soon released. A simultaneous release of prostaglandins will also occur.

The moment cytoplasmic granules produces these, the process of vasodilatation takes place. Erythema will then follow. In order for wheals to form and develop, there are a number of mediators that must be present. You can expect the neutrophils to release a large number of chemo attractants. Itching is a natural reaction. Since these are also involved in chronic urticaria, you cannot use antihistamines to treat such a condition. Wheal formation has different causative agents, they will not be effective at all if you insist to make use of them.

The disease chronic urticaria can be divided into two main types. One of them is what is known as auto immune chronic urticaria. This is a condition that affects 45 per cent of the population who has chronic urticaria. But when you observe 55 percent of people with chronic urticaria, they will be suffering from idiopathic type. There will be many types of antibodies that are produced in both cases. Immunoglobulin G auto antibodies are going to be pitted against the Fc receptor of IgE. The alpha subunit in the Fc receptor of IgE will be what it will be up against. The Fc receptors of the auto antibodies known as anti IgE can also be what these will be pitted against.

When such reactions or attacks occur in the body, it will lead to the release of histamines from immune cells called basophile. The complement system that is present in the blood will also help this along. These reactions will also bring about the production of C5a. The activation of the mast cells will also be spurred along. It will also become some sort of a chemo attractant. Thus it will attract the neutrophils and eosinophils. The person will then find skin lesions appearing on different parts of his body as a result of the immune cells clumping together and being concentrated in one spot. It is also likely that you will witness some swelling and other allergic reactions all over your skin once the dermal mast cells decide to produce and release larger amounts of histamine.




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