Abstract
Urticaria is characterised by transient swellings of the skin, which fluctuate over hours. Deeper swellings of the subcutaneous and submucosal tissue are known as angio-oedema. Drug-induced urticaria has been reported with a wide range of drugs and vaccines. NSAIDs and antibiotics are the drugs most commonly associated with urticaria, although reliable data from prospectively controlled studies is scarce. Spontaneous reports of drug-induced urticaria to the Committee on Safety of Medicines, UK, over a 40-year period also implicate bupropion, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor antidepressants, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), H2 and H1 antihistamines, and systemic antifungals. New evidence suggests that selective COX-2 inhibitors may be tolerated in patients with aspirin-sensitive urticaria. The safety of angiotensin II receptor antagonists in patients with angio-oedema induced by ACEI has not yet been established.
MeSH terms
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Analgesics / adverse effects
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Angioedema / chemically induced
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Angioedema / diagnosis
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Angioedema / drug therapy
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Angioedema / immunology
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Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / adverse effects
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Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / adverse effects
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Anti-Bacterial Agents / adverse effects
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / adverse effects
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Antigen-Antibody Complex / immunology
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Bradykinin / metabolism
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Complement Activation
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Cross Reactions
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Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / adverse effects
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Disease Susceptibility
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Drug Eruptions / diagnosis
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Drug Eruptions / drug therapy
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Drug Eruptions / etiology*
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Drug Eruptions / immunology
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Food Hypersensitivity
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Histamine Release / drug effects
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Humans
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Immunoglobulin E / immunology
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Mast Cells / metabolism
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Urticaria / chemically induced*
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Urticaria / classification
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Urticaria / diagnosis
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Urticaria / drug therapy
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Urticaria / immunology
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Vaccines / adverse effects
Substances
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Analgesics
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Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers
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Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
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Anti-Bacterial Agents
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
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Antigen-Antibody Complex
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Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors
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Vaccines
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Immunoglobulin E
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Bradykinin