My Blog
Posts for tag: autoimmune
Many of us have had the uncomfortable itching experience of hives or wheals(the medical term is urticaria)in
our lives. Hives result from the release of a body chemical called histamine from mast cells.Ordinary individual hives
typically last 24 hours or less. However,the coming and going of hives persisting for more than 6 weeks is called
chronic.And,from my clinical experience in the office it becomes much more difficult to elicit their cause.
The etiology of hives can be divided into several classifications: these include:
1)anti-inflammatory medications such ibuprofen,naproxen,and aspirin as well as narcotic medications
including codeine,hydrocodone,and oxycodone.
2)the ingestion of certain foods as well as the diluents and preservatives they contain. These foods include
shellfish,strawberries,chocolate,etc.
3)physical causes such as heat and cold,water and pressure,sun and cholinergic(due to physical exertion
and sweating)
4)chronic causes of hives such as the autoimmune diseases of lupus and the thyroid gland(Grave's disease).
In addition,chronic infections including dental cavities,urinary tract and vaginal infections.
5)stress and nerves-I have listed this last since it is easy to blame everything on this.
But,patients with chronic hives in particular need a complete history,physical exam,and lab work to rule out
internal causes (comorbidities).
The mainstay of treatment is to correct any underlying medical disorder and the use of non-sedating
antihistamines whenever possible.However,in my clinical experience acute exacerbations sometimes require
sedating antihistamines(especially for patients kept awake all night from the itching)and/or a short course
of corticosteroids for the worse flare-ups.
The injectible drug omalizumab initially approved for moderate to severe persistent and allergic
asthma is now available for chronic recalcitrant and idiopathic(ie,cause unknown)urticaria.The drug opposes
the immunoglobulin antibody in the blood known as IgE which mediates allergic reactions.It is approved
for patients over 12 years old.
However,when the monthly injections are stopped the hives recur.The good news is that the drug is still effective
when restarted.
Archive:
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
Tags
- coronary artery disease (5)
- hypertension (4)
- diabetes mellitus (1)
- carcinoma (2)
- blood tests (1)
- metastasis (2)
- triglycerides (2)
- liver disease (1)
- diabetes (5)
- obesity (1)
- smoking (1)
- antifungals (1)
- corticosteroids (2)
- skin itching (1)
- skin burning (1)
- groin rash (1)
- extramammary Paget's disease (1)
- apocrine gland (1)
- breast cancer (3)
- adenocarcinoma (1)
- skin carcinoma (1)
- cytokeratin 20 (1)
- HER-2 (1)
- lymphatic system. (1)
- shingles (2)
- herpes zoster (2)
- varicella (1)
- chicken pox (1)
- pain (3)
- burning (1)
- malaise (1)
- myocardial infarction (1)
- heart attack (1)
- TIA (1)
- transient ischemic attack (1)
- mini-stroke (1)
- high blood pressure (1)
- cholesterol (5)
- malignant melanoma (10)
- moles (1)
- skin exam (1)
- non-sun exposed (1)
- psoriasis (6)
- cancer (3)
- malignancy (1)
- phototherapy (1)
- cyclosporine (1)
- methotrexate (1)
- weight loss (1)
- bleedingototherapy (1)
- non-Hodgkins lymphoma (1)
- non-melanoma skin cancer (2)
- urinary tract (1)
- respiratory tract (1)
- unintended weight loss (1)
- basal cell carcinoma (2)
- squamous cell carcinoma (4)
- itching (1)
- skin lesion (1)
- tenderness (1)
- skin cancer (3)
- chemotherapy (4)
- radiation therapy (2)
- arsenic (2)
- skin ulcers (1)
- burns (1)
- vaccination marks (1)
- sores (1)
- immunosuppressed (2)
- urticaria (1)
- ibuprofen (2)
- naproxen (3)
- aspirin (1)
- codeine (1)
- hydrocodone (1)
- oxycodone (1)
- preservatives (1)
- diluents (1)
- cholinergic (1)
- autoimmune (1)
- lupus (1)
- Grave's disease (1)
- thyroid (1)
- infections (1)
- dental cavities (1)
- antihistamines (2)
- omalizumab (1)
- IgE ibuprofen (1)
- melasma (1)
- cholasma (1)
- pregnancy (1)
- birth control (1)
- hormones (1)
- estrogen (1)
- progesterone (1)
- pigment (1)
- melanocytes (1)
- melanin (1)
- allergic (1)
- cosmetics (1)
- sun exposure (1)
- hydroquinone (2)
- tretinoin (3)
- azelaic acid (2)
- sunscreens (3)
- lignin peroxidase (1)
- dark spots (1)
- mycoses fungoides lymphoma (1)
- T-cells (1)
- eczema (2)
- fungus (2)
- skin biopsy (2)
- ultraviolet A light (1)
- PUVA (1)
- psoralens (1)
- nitrogen mustard (1)
- stem-cell (1)
- bone marrow (1)
- transplant (1)
- extracorporeal photophoresis (1)
- Breslow's thickness (1)
- mitotic rate (1)
- ulceration (1)
- sentinel node biopsy (1)
- tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (1)
- regression (1)
- genetic mutations (2)
- BRAF (1)
- vemurafenib (1)
- familial melanoma (1)
- germline mutation (1)
- tetracycline (1)
- doxycycline (1)
- trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (1)
- hydrochlorthiazide (1)
- furosemide (1)
- nifedipine (1)
- lisinopril (1)
- calcium channel blocker (1)
- ace inhibitor (1)
- glipizide (1)
- glyburide (1)
- chlorpropamide (1)
- diphenhydramine (1)
- acne (2)
- isotretinoin (1)
- acetretin (1)
- psychiatric (1)
- major tranquillizers (1)
- tricyclic antidepressants (1)
- scented over-the-counter products. (1)
- Acne Rosacea (2)
- Acne Vulgarus (2)
- cardiovascular (1)
- macular degeneration (2)
- inflammation (2)
- vitamin A (1)
- intensed pulsed light (1)
- lasers (1)
- chemical peels (1)
- trichloroacetic acid (1)
- glycolic acid (1)
- vitaminC (1)
- ascorbic acid (1)
- lemon juice (1)
- citric acid (1)
- photosensitizer (1)
- janus kinase inhibitors (1)
- tofacitnib citrate (1)
- cytokines (1)
- atopic dermatitis (1)
- vitiligo (2)
- alopecia areata (1)
- asthma (1)
- hay fever (1)
- rheumatoid arthritis (1)
- opportunistic infections (1)
- malignancies (1)
- treatment (1)
- antibiotic resistance (1)
- doxycline 40 mgs (1)
- doxycycline 100 mgs (1)
- drug resistance (1)
- drug side effects (1)
- moderate and severe inflammatory acne (1)
- Rosacea (1)
- flare factors (1)
- stroke (1)
- chronic inflammation (1)
- immunotherapy (1)
- pembrolizumab (1)
- monoclonal antibodies (2)
- checkpoint inhibitors (1)
- metastatic (1)
- steroids (1)
- attenuated (1)
- virus (1)
- icancer (1)
- immunocompetent (1)
- newer more effective vaccine (1)
- recurrent shingles (1)
- merkel cell carcinoma (3)
- lung cancer (1)
- radiation exposure (2)
- asbestos (1)
- radon (1)
- squamous cell carcinoma(SCC) (1)
- basal cell carcinoma(BCC) (1)
- tanning beds (1)
- sunscreen SPF (1)
- actinic keratosis (1)
- causes of skin cancer (1)
- Polypodium leucotomos (1)
- photoaging (1)
- good "sunsense'" (1)
- metastasize (1)
- Avelumab (1)
- biologics (1)
- herpes (1)
- oncolytic (1)
- Talimogene laherparepvec (1)
- (TVEC) (1)
- genetic modification (1)
- virions (1)
- poliovirus (1)
- glioblastoma (1)
- multiple myeloma (1)
- age spots (1)
- internal cancer (1)
- seborrheic keratoses (1)
- gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma (1)
- sign of Leser-Trelat (1)
- ichthyosis (1)
- xerosis (1)
- dry skin (1)
- hypothyroidism (1)
- sarcoidosis (1)
- Hodgkin disease (1)
- lymphoma (1)
- skin metastasis (1)
- nodules (1)
- lubricating creams (1)
- topical nitroglycerin (1)
- Raynaud's phenomenon (1)
- systemic lupus erythematous (1)
- systemic sclerosis (1)
- Pernio (1)
- chondrodermatitis nodularis helicis (1)
- anal fissures (1)
- contact dermatitis (1)
- woringer kolopp (1)
- Basex syndrome (1)
- syphyllis (1)
- dermatomyositis (1)
- mechanics hands (1)
- paraneoplastic (1)
- HIV (1)
- HPV (1)
- immunosuppression (1)
- organ transplant (1)