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Hive outbreaks with raised ALT liver test
My husband has been breaking out in hives all over his body since the middle of June this year. We have been to the doctor and an allergist for lots of blood tests and all that we can find abnormal is raised ALT (alanine aminotransferase) liver function test, and raised CU Index. THe raised CU (chronic unticaria) indicates his hives are auto immune hives, but we don't know what is causing them. We don't know why there is a high ALT result!?!?!? He is not positive for hepatitis, or thyroid disorders, he is normally healthy and does not drink. He is a little overweight but still feels fine when he doesn't have the outbreaks. Usually if he gets hot or stressed the hives will start and they spread all over his body and it's getting worse, with most recently lips swelled up and eyes swollen shut. We have tried antihistamines but they don't seem to work either. Any ideas, please help!
Hello, I am having exactly the same situation since a week. I am 27 years old man. A week ago I had sudden rash and itch all over my body. Next day I started taking Zyrtec. Itch stopped but rash still continued to appear and disappear especially on my neck, arms, and hands. It appears mostly when I finish my shower even though I don't use hot water in shower. I did blood test days ago, I have ALT = 51 which is over the limit (46). Months ago my ALT was 26. I stopped using Zyrtec, and my doctor told me to use Atarax. However, its been a week and the rash is still the same. I am very worried about it. What shall I do? Cobesrick can you please tell me what was the treatment that your husband took?
No, actually the rash clears in about two days on the prednisone. It helps it really quick. He may need a larger dose than my daughter because they base the dose on size and she is not very tall, but the time on it is still very short about 2 -3 weeks depending on the weening time. The relief is tremendous. Atarax is only a medication that you would take at night. It will allow him to sleep without the tremendous itching and burning. He will actually feel more rested the next day than off of it because he will have slept. But for any autoimmune problem.... a rhuematologist is always best.
No, he hasn't seen a rhuematologist. Thanks for the idea. I guess we should leave the allergist, since he is out of ideas any way. The allergist did say that he can use the pred if he has a bad outbreak, just to take one dose of it. But I thought that you are supposed to take it for a while to have an effect??? I will look in to the Atarax. The problem with meds is that he drives all around town for his job, and he doesn't want to be sleepy from taking pills. Thanks for your response!
First, has he seen a rhuematologist? If it is autoimmune related hives then that is who he should be seeing. Second, have they tried prednisone for his hives? My daughter gets them from her autoimmune problems and they put her on a high dose that they immediately begin weening. She is usually on them for about 2 1/2 weeks so that she doesn't get all the side effects associated with steroids. Heat, sweating and stress can all bring them on with my daughter. Also there are some medications that will help him with the itch and burning until you get some answers. Atarax helped her with the itching and being able to sleep at night until the prednisone kicked in (about 2 days). Good Luck
I was under the impression that sulfasalazene was for arthriths and could possibly help liver function. I was given hisminal which is an anti-histamine . It worked for me. Good Luck . cat33
No, he is not taking any medication right now, except the new stuff the allergist gave us- sulfasalazene. I believe it's an anti-inflammatory. My husband believes that the anti-histamines are not working so that is why we are trying the new stuff. Dr, when you talk about managing with medications, does it make sense for him to have to take the meds every day, or only when he has an outbreak? During the summer (hotter days) he was having a mild outbreak almost every day but only bad ones once a week. Now, he doesn't get them everyday, so he doesn't feel like he wants to take meds everyday. I am confused! Also, what should we do about the weird liver test results?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Both heat and stress are common triggers for urticaria. I'm sorry he's been suffering for almost 6 months. It's concerning if his lips and eyes swell to the point of swelling shut, I'd worry about angioedema as well. If it swells in his windpipe it could keep him from being able to breathe. Go ask your doctor about that. Many people don't ever find the reason for their hives but can manage it with medications
Does he take any kind of medications. I broke out in hives like that at one time and it turned out I was allergic to one of the blood pressure medications I had been taking for about 5 years. Only problem was I had to be taken off of them one at a time to figure out which one it was. It took about 5 week in which time my blood pressure really went out of control.
cat33
cat33
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