{"id":51,"date":"2024-01-25T13:20:10","date_gmt":"2024-01-25T13:20:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chronichives.com\/?p=51"},"modified":"2024-02-01T07:53:32","modified_gmt":"2024-02-01T07:53:32","slug":"frequently-asked-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chronichives.com\/frequently-asked-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"Frequently Asked Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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What is chronic urticaria (CU or CIU)?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Chronic urticaria (CU) is a type of hives, also called nettle rash, that lasts for more than six weeks. Shorter bouts of hives are considered acute urticaria and are treated differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Urticaria can be a manifestation of many conditions and illnesses, rather than one illness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CIU stands for chronic idiopathic urticaria. The term is\u00a0idiopathic<\/em>\u00a0simply means \u2018of unknown cause\u2019. The diagnosis is often made by ruling out known causes, but some causes, like mastocytosis, cannot be ruled out. How much your physician rules out depends on his or her diagnostic talent, knowledge, and willingness to test.\u00a0
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How long does CU last?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no easy answer to this question. Some people have it for a year or so, after which it goes away, never to return. Some people have remissions of as much as thirty years between episodes. Some people suffer from it their whole lives. The answer also lies in finding out possible causes. Some people are lucky enough to discover and treat the underlying cause well enough to make the hives go away. 
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What produces hives?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Mast cell degranulation is the mechanism behind hives. In simple terms, certain little white blood cells are going bonkers and firing histamine. Mast cells fire in response to antigens (invaders, real or perceived) that come into your body either by contact (skin), inhalation, or digestion. Antigens are also produced within the body by other factors, such as inflammation or systemic illnesses such as cancer, thyroid disease, or lupus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Besides histamine, mast cells also fire heparin, chondroitin sulfates, neutral proteases, acid hydrolases, and other enzymes. On the surface of these mast cells are little receptors for IgE (immunoglobulin E antibody). Think Velcro\u00ae. When an antigen comes into the body it \u201csticks\u201d to the IgE receptors. When the mast cell gets loaded it starts firing its weapons(degranulating) and it encourages other mast cells as well as other inflammatory cells (basophils and leukotrienes) to fire also.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also See: Clear Nails Plus<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the mast cells fire, they release histamine. Histamine and other mast cell byproducts cause
vasodilation (where the capillaries increase in diameter), which in turn causes the blood vessels to leak fluid into surrounding tissues. The histamine infusion into the tissues produces hives. 
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What causes CU?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

CU can be caused by a great many different things. Generally, chronic urticaria is either autoimmune (a primary autoimmune disease all its own) or a symptom of something, it is just a matter of finding what that something is. Approximately half of the CU cases are autoimmune.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CU may be related to an autoimmune problem such as lupus, thyroid disease, or multiple sclerosis. It may be an allergic reaction to something (although if the hives are chronic this is unlikely). If you have had hives for longer than six weeks, you may not discover the cause. This doesn\u2019t mean you should stop looking for the cause, but knowing this can help you focus on managing your symptoms and living with the condition daily.\u00a0
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How can I figure out the cause of my CU?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you want to pursue finding the cause, keep in mind it may take a long time to pinpoint, and it probably won\u2019t be easy to do. And you may never find the underlying cause. You will have to be your detective and advocate to find it. If it means changing doctors, so be it. Listen to your body and keep a detailed diary of what goes into your body, what you are exposed to, and what your symptoms are like each day. A pattern may emerge. Several people with mastocytosis\/mast cell activation syndrome have also reported that their symptoms began with an \u2018event\u2019 or trauma, like that seen in autoimmunity.\u00a0
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How do I find out if it\u2019s autoimmune?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the first tests you should have is something called the autologous serum skin test (ASST). This test is still not widely available, so it may take some hunting around to find a local clinic or hospital that offers the test. The ASST involves taking a sample of your blood, spinning it down in a centrifuge to separate the serum, and then injecting the serum back into your arm. A wheal\/flare response to the injection is considered positive for autoimmune CU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some things many people with autoimmune diseases have in common:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n