Contact Urticaria Syndrome: Diagnosis and Management

by Ana M. Gimïnez-Arnau, Howard I. Maibach

Overview

Contact urticaria is an immediate but transient localized swelling and redness that occurs on the skin after direct contact with an offending substance. It is caused by a variety of compounds, such as foods, preservatives, fragrances, plant and animal products, metals, and rubber latex and the mechanism by which these provoke an immediate urticarial rash at the area of contact can be divided into two categories: non-immunological contact urticaria and immunological (allergic) contact urticaria. Non-immunological contact urticaria typically causes mild localized reactions that clear within hours, e.g. stinging nettle rash. This type of urticaria occurs without prior exposure of a patient's immune system to an allergen. Immunological contact urticaria occurs most commonly in atopic individuals (people who are prone to allergy). Hence prior exposure to an allergen is required for this type of contact urticaria to occur.

While there have been other texts written on the subject over the last decade, this book is intended as an easily accessible guide for dermatologists and residents, as well as general practitioners, summarizing the most important concepts that will help physicians identify the signs and symptoms of Contact Urticaria Syndrome in their daily clinical practice. Each chapter is laid out in the following format: Concepts, Tools and Algorithms of Diagnosis and Management, a Clinical Case for each entry, and Recommendations. Additionally, the Volume Editors have worked to provide a global approach to this syndrome using internationally standardized requirements for diagnosis.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783319897639
Publisher:	Springer International Publishing
Publication date:	06/28/2018
Series:	Updates in Clinical Dermatology
Edition description:	1st ed. 2018
Pages:	186
Product dimensions:	7.01(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Dr. Ana Giménez-Arnau is a Consultant in Dermatology and Associate Professor in the Department of Dermatology at the University of Barcelona.

Dr. Howard Maibach is a professor in the Department of Dermatology at UCSF and is an expert in contact and occupational dermatitis and His specialties are dermatotoxicology, or skin exposure toxicity; allergies and skin disorders; and dermatopharmacology or the study of medications for skin disorders. Dr. Maibach has been on the editorial board of more than 30 scientific journals and is a member of 19 professional societies including the American Academy of Dermatology, San Francisco Dermatological Society and the Internal Commission on Occupation Health.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Essentials and Updated Concepts.- Chapter 2. Basic Epidemiology Concepts Relevant in Contact Urticaria.- Chapter 3. Occupational Relevance of Contact Urticaria Syndrome.- Chapter 4. Clinical Diagnosis of Immediate Contact Skin Reactions.- Chapter 5. Oral Allergy Syndrome: Rethinking Concepts.- Chapter 6. Wheals and Eczema: Pathogenic Mechanism in Immediate Contact Reactions.- Chapter 7. Immediate Skin Contact Reactions Induced by Proteins.- Chapter 8. Immediate Skin Contact Reactions Induced by Chemicals.- Chapter 9. Immunoglobulin E, Pathogenic Relevance in Immediate Contact Reactions.- Chapter 10. Diagnostic Methods: Cutaneous Provocation Tests in Contact Urticaria Syndrome.- Chapter 11. Molecular Diagnosis in Contact Urticaria Caused by Proteins.- Chapter 12. Preventive Measures for Occupational Induced Immediate Contact Reactions.- Chapter 13. Management and Treatment of Contact Urticaria Syndrome.- Chapter 14. Management of Contact Urticaria through Clinical Cases.

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Patricia Wong, MD (Private Practice)
Description: Causes of contact urticaria can be mediated by an IgE immunological pathway or a nonimmunological mechanism involving prostaglandins and leukotrienes or a combination. Environmental and food proteins, preservatives, fragrances, and biocides are some of the many triggers of contact urticaria. The book discusses how to establish a diagnosis of contact urticaria syndrome, specifically prick testing. It describes how to perform skin testing and interpret results.
Purpose: The purpose is to educate dermatologists and general practitioners on how to diagnose and treat contact urticaria and not misdiagnose it as simply urticaria.
Audience: The audience is dermatologists, dermatology residents, and general practitioners. This is a common problem seen in clinical practice.
Features: Understanding contact urticaria syndrome falls under the realm of contact dermatitis, a large part of the discussions are devoted to specific ingredients, their function for being added to formulations, and the maximum allowed concentrations. Upon perusing the book, readers will realize that hives are a complicated matter and it is not always clear what underlying mechanisms contribute to a particular case of urticaria. Immunological differences in hypersensitivity pathways involving T helper 1 & 2 cells are discussed. There are multiple tables summarizing the culprit proteins causing protein contact dermatitis and work-up algorithms for different food proteins.
Assessment: This book incorporates contact dermatitis principles with an allergist approach for therapy and evaluation. Who knew urticaria was so complicated? You will never look at another case of hives the same after reading this book.

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