Chronic idiopathic urticaria: natural course and association with Helicobacter pylori infection.

BACKGROUND

Chronic urticaria is a common disease, though only few data on its natural course are available. In most cases the cause cannot be determined. Recently a relationship of chronic urticaria to infection with Helicobacter pylori (HP) has been postulated, but no controlled study has been performed to prove this association.

METHODS

In this prospective study the clinical course and rate of HP infection in 46 patients with chronic 'idiopathic' urticaria were investigated. Infected patients were treated in a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study with amoxycillin and lansoprazol. Eradication and clinical course were followed up 2 months after each treatment, respectively, 3 and 6 months after the first consultation.

RESULTS

In 19/46 (41%) the chronic 'idiopathic' urticaria resolved within 6 months. 12 patients (24%) were infected with HP, which corresponds to the infection rate of the population at comparable ages without urticaria in Switzerland. Eradication of HP was achieved in 3, but only in 1 was the eradication associated with the resolution of urticaria.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data show that in young patients with a rather short history of chronic urticaria frequently a rather favourable natural course of chronic idiopathic urticaria can be seen. No association between HP infection and chronic urticaria could be demonstrated.