Fig. 1.

Prevalences of serum specific IgE to staphylococcal superantigens When the prevalences of specific IgE to the three staphylococcal superantigens were compared among the AICU, ATCU and NC groups, the highest values were noted for the AICU patients (18.2% for SEA, 16.7% for SEB, 25.8% for TSST-1, 31.8% for any SEs). Moreover significant differences were noted between the AICU and NC groups (p=0.001 for SEA and TSST-1, p=0.013 for SEB). The specific IgE to TSST-1 was the most prevalent in AICU patients, and statistical significance was noted in comparison with ATCU patients (p=0.047).

AICU, aspirin-intolerant chronic urticaria; ATCU, aspirin-tolerant chronic urticaria; NC, normal control; SEA, staphylococcal enterotoxin A; SEB, staphylococcal enterotoxin B; TSST-1, toxic shock syndrome toxin-1; SEs, staphylococcal enterotoxins; NS, not significant.