Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of Helicobacter pylori antigen in stool of patients with chronic urticaria who presented at our tertiary care hospital.
Methodology: This descriptive cross-section study was carried out at department of dermatology in collaboration with department of pediatrics, Al-Tibri Medical College & Hospital and Isra University Karachi Campus, during a period of one year. Patients with chronic urticaria of both genders and all ages were selected by non-probability convenience sampling. Patients with known co-morbidities and other causes of urticaria as well as those with acute urticaria were excluded.
Results: Out of 116 patients, 73 had positive H. pylori antigen in their stool. Females patients (67.2%, n=43) and those who had angioedema (66.7%, n=16) were more likely to have H. pylori antigen positive. Serum level of immunoglobulin E was found quite elevated in patients who were positive for H. pylori antigen.
Conclusion: Considerable number of patients with chronic urticaria had H. pylori antigen in their stool. This antigen is internationally recognized to be the cause of chronic urticaria in many countries.

Key words: Urticaria, chronic urticaria, urea-breath test, Helicobacter pylori, weal, angioedema.