Diseases 
What is autoimmune urticaria?
THE AUToIMMUnE REACTIonApproximately half of all patients with chronic urticaria suffer from the autoimmune form. Autoimmune urticaria means that autoantibodies in your immune system 1 react with your own mast cells 2. The reason they occur is unknown.
Can hives be a sign of something serious?
Hives appear as a rapidly spreading, red, raised and itchy rash in splotches or all over the body. Caused by an allergic reaction to medications or food, hives can be a sign of a life-threatening problem when accompanied by difficulty breathing and a drop in blood pressure.
Can chronic hives be autoimmune?
In about half of patients with chronic idiopathic hives, the explanation is that body’s immune system is, in a sense, overactive. The urticaria is “autoimmune”. The immune system is attacking the normal tissues of the body and causing hives as a result. A new treatment has recently emerged for autoimmune urticaria.
Why am I getting hives all of a sudden?
A sudden onset of hives (acute hives) usually has an identifiable cause or trigger — such as insect stings or bites, medications, certain foods, allergens, or infections. Acute hives go away within a few weeks and are usually effectively treated with antihistamines. Chronic hives can go on for months and even years.