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Histological spectrum of cutaneous reactions to aspirin in chronic idiopathic urticaria
Author(s) -
Zembowicz Artur,
Mastalerz Lucyna,
Setkowicz Malgorzata,
Radziszewski Waldemar,
Szczeklik Andrzej
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of cutaneous pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1600-0560
pISSN - 0303-6987
DOI - 10.1111/j.0303-6987.2004.0195.x
Subject(s) - aspirin , medicine , pathology , biopsy , dermatology , drug , histology , psychiatry
Background: During a clinical trial, we obtained 16 biopsies of skin eruptions induced by aspirin in patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU). In this setting, aspirin triggers skin eruptions through a well‐established non‐immunological mechanism involving the inhibition of cyclooxygenase type I. This presented the rare opportunity to evaluate histological features of a series of skin eruptions induced by a drug acting through a defined mechanism in a controlled experimantal setting. Objective: Histological analysis of 16 biopsies of skin eruptions induced by oral aspirin challenge in patients with CIU. Design: Microscopic analysis of tissue sections. Patients: 16 patients with CIU. Results: Aspirin (up to 500 mg) induced a restricted range of histological responses with a classic pattern of urticarial tissue reaction occuring in the majority of (12 of 16) cases. Two biopsies showed an interstitial fibrohistiocytic (granuloma annulare‐like) reaction pattern. One case showed only a sparse perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate, and paucicellular dermal mucinosis was observed in one case. Conclusions: Polymorphism of histological patterns induced by aspirin suggests that in addition to the drug‐specific mechanisms triggering drug eruptions, individual factors also play a role in determining the ultimate histological phenotype of a drug response.