The Itch: Allergies, Asthma, Eczema & Immunology18 Sep 2025

#128 - Is Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria an Autoimmune Disease?

When people get hives or swelling, they often think it’s caused by an allergy. But in the case of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), the culprit is often your own immune system. CSU isn’t your typical allergic reaction, instead, it’s frequently an autoimmune condition, where the immune system misfires and activates mast cells without any external trigger.

In this episode, Dr. Payel Gupta and Kortney unpack what it means for CSU to be autoimmune and autoallergic. They explain how IgE and IgG antibodies can trigger histamine release, leading to hives and swelling. You’ll also learn why allergy testing isn’t useful for diagnosing CSU, and how tests like IgG food sensitivity panels can do more harm than good by leading to unnecessary food avoidance and confusion.

What we cover in our episode about autoimmune CSU and chronic hives:

Is CSU an allergy? Why CSU is often mistaken for an allergic reaction—and why standard allergy tests rarely provide helpful answers.
How the immune system works in CSU: What mast cells are, how they release histamine, and their central role in chronic spontaneous urticaria.
Understanding autoimmune CSU: Learn how the immune system can trigger hives from within, including the roles of IgE and IgG antibodies.
Autoimmune hives explained: We explore how CSU can be autoimmune, why the immune system may attack itself, and what Type I and Type IIb autoimmune CSU really mean.

____

Made in partnership with The Allergy & Asthma Network.

Thanks to Novartis for sponsoring today’s episode.

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical concerns.

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(175)

#173 - Busting the Biggest Biologics Myths for COPD, Asthma, and Nasal Polyps

Starting a biologic can feel intimidating, especially if you are worried it means being on medication forever, or wondering if it will actually replace your inhaler or your next sinus surgery. After t...

3 Sep 33min

#172 - Why Needing Systemic Steroids for Asthma Is a Warning Sign

Needing oral steroids for your asthma is a signal, not just a setback. It could be a sign that your asthma is not actually under control, even if you feel like you're managing it day to day. Dr. Wes S...

27 Aug 39min

#171 - Rescue Inhaler Changes in the Newest Asthma Guidelines

For decades, the rescue inhaler was simple: feel tight, take a puff, breathe easier. But the newest asthma guidelines have changed what's actually recommended inside that inhaler, shifting away from p...

21 Aug 42min

#170 - When Asthma Peak Week Hits Adults

Most asthma peak week coverage focuses on kids heading back to school. But adults with asthma are just as much at risk, and often don't realize it until they're already in trouble. Kortney and Dr. Pa...

13 Aug 29min

#169 - What a School Nurse Wants Parents to Know About Asthma Peak Week

Every September, doctors see a jump in asthma attacks and ER visits. It's called Asthma Peak Week, and it usually hits the third week of September, right when families are settling into their school r...

6 Aug 41min

#168 - Wildfire Smoke and Your Lungs, What You Need to Know

Wildfire smoke used to feel like someone else's problem. Now it can show up on air quality alerts hundreds of miles from any actual fire, and for anyone with asthma, that hazy sky can mean real troubl...

30 Jul 23min

#167 - How Is Chronic Rhinosinusitis Without Nasal Polyps Diagnosed and Treated?

Chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) is the type that makes up most chronic sinusitis cases. It's often mistaken for allergies, a lingering cold, or migraines, which can delay a proper...

24 Jul 28min

#166 - How Pregnancy and Your Baby's Gut Microbiome Play a Role in Food Allergy Prevention

Food allergy prevention is something most families think about once a baby starts eating. But the gut microbiome begins developing before birth, and what happens during pregnancy matters for the devel...

16 Jul 21min