Abstract
19 aspirin-sensitive and 14 non-aspirin-sensitive patients with chronic urticaria were tested for the presence of specific anti-salicyloyl-IgE antibodies by prick testing, RAST and in vitro histamine release using an aspirin-polylysine conjugate. Polylysine succinate served as a control. Negative results were obtained in all cases with the exception of 1 patient who gave a positive prick test response. However, this patient reacted to the control conjugate as well as aspirin polylysine. Skin prick test responses to a battery of environmental allergens revealed that the majority (90%) of the aspirin-sensitive patients were non-atopic. The findings suggest that the clinical symptoms and signs in patients with chronic urticaria associated with aspirin sensitivity are not mediated by specific IgE antibodies.