Cold urticaria

In this urticaria, cold makes the program. Reaching into the cold refrigerator can have intense consequences. The frozen vegetables from the freezer become a problem. So does touching cold handles. The cold wind blowing around our noses, the cool temperature, the cold wet in summer. All of these can trigger urticaria. Eating ice cream in summer or cold drinks are often cancelled. It is also not yet known exactly why the disease appears spontaneously and disappears after a few years.

Recent studies have shown that there is a new hereditary form of cold urticaria based on a mutation of the factor XII gene (factor XII-associated cold-induced autoinflammatory syndrome). These people therefore have cold urticaria from birth. The two forms can be distinguished by the fact that sufferers with hereditary cold urticaria do not react to the ice cube test. This form of cold urticaria is also treated with other medications. Those that are used in patients with HAE (hereditary angioedema) are used. 

People with congenital cold urticaria who do not respond to antihistamines can now have genetic testing done (FACAS). Research is also underway to see if an antibody (lanadelumab) can provide relief.  

People who suffer from cold urticaria become very creative. First and foremost, the most important thing is to protect yourself from the cold as best you can. You can find out how best to do this and what else you should know about cold urticaria here.

If you would like to know your threshold temperature, please send us an e-mail to: beratung@urtikariaverband.eu.