Diagnostic Role of Autologous Serum Skin Test in Chronic Urticaria and Comparison of Clinical Features with Positive Autologous Serum Skin Test.

Background: Chronic idiopathic urticaria can pose a therapeutic challenge for the physician and can also be distressing for the patient. ASST helps in identification of auto immune urticaria and may stimulate the use of immunotherapy in severe disease that is unresponsive to conventional antihistamines. Aim: To determine the incidence of positive Autologous Serum Skin Test (ASST) in Chronic idiopathic urticaria and comparison of clinical and laboratory parameters of patients with positive and negative autologous serum skin test. Methods: In the present prospective observational study, 60 clinically diagnosed cases of chronic idiopathic urticaria attending the Department of Dermatology, Venereology, Leprology at Chalmeda Ananda Rao hospital were enrolled and ASST was done & results were compared with clinical & other lab parameters. Results: out of 60 enrolled patients ASST was positive in 21(35%) patients and ASST was negative in 39 (65%) patients. Conclusion: ASST was a simple and cost effective test which helps us in the classification of chronic urticaria and its treatment.