The relationship between Helicobacter pylori IgG antibody and autologous serum test in chronic urticaria

Background In chronic urticaria, suspicious factors are Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection and autoimmunity, as well as other etiologic agents. Autologous serum injection is the first step to identify autoimmune urticaria. Our study was performed to determine the prevalence of HP infection in patients with chronic urticaria, and to evaluate the results of autologous serum testing in chronic urticaria patients who had HP antibodies. Methods HP immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody was defined by an immunochromatographic method in 61 chronic urticaria patients and 15 healthy persons. Autologous serum testing was performed in 32 chronic urticaria patients. Results HP IgG antibody was found to be positive in 41% of chronic urticaria patients and 26% of healthy controls (chi(2) = 7.82, P = 0.005). Autologous serum testing was positive in 41% of chronic urticaria patients who had HP IgG antibody. This ratio was 14.3% in chronic urticaria patients who did not have HP IgG antibody (chi(2) = 9.23, P = 0.002). Conclusions In this study, autologous serum testing was found to highly positive in chronic urticaria patients with HP IgG antibody, but the relationship between autoimmunity and HP infection requires further investigations.