Role of ASO titre in diagnostic evaluation of adult urticaria: Need to revisit?

Background: Various preceding infections are well known to be causative factors for urticaria, including the streptococcal nasopharyngeal infection, and ASO titre remains an important component of diagnostic evaluation for urticaria. Aim: To study the relevance of ASO titre as one of the causative factors in urticaria. Materials and Method: In this hospital based study, prospective patients of ordinary urticaria, aged more than 16 years and of both sexes were studied over 15 months. ASO titre in these cases were compared with that of age matched apparently healthy controls. Results: Out of 190 cases of urticaria, 17 (8.95%) showed positive ASO titre (>200 IU). Out of total 200 controls, 14 (7%) showed positive ASO titre. But this difference was not statistically significant (p >0.05). Conclusion: The results of our study show that not all cases may be preceded by streptococcal infections and ASO titre may not be a necessary component of diagnostic evaluation in urticaria.