To the Editor.—
Activation states of the classic and/or alternative pathway of complement may be associated with chronic urticaria.1,2
Report of a Case.—
We describe a 46-year-old white woman, who was admitted to our institution for evaulation of a 7-year history of recurrent, almost daily episodes of pruritic urticarial rash, along with occasional swelling of the lips and fever. The symptoms were not accompanied by abdominal pain, arthralgia, arthritis, or respiratory distress. Exacerbations were not related to recognizable stimuli. On different occasions, physical examination revealed numerous urticarial wheals (up to 10 cm in diameter) on the trunk and extremities that persisted for 12 to 24 hours and resolved without secondary changes.Results of laboratory examinations showed normal erythrocyte and leukocyte counts, and an erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 30 mm/h. Serum urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels were within normal limits. Cryoglobulins, antinuclear antibodies, and rheumatoid factor were absent, and