Hives and welts are usually just a harmless skin rash however, studies have shown that certain diseases such as lupus, lymphoma, and thyroid disease may make you more susceptible to hives, making hives and welts possible early indicators of a more serious condition. The skin is the largest organ of the body and as such, it is a window doctors can use to better understand the maladies of the body. For example, cancer can make patients more susceptible to the sun causing itching, hives, and welts. Reactions to chemotherapy can cause hives and welts making it essential to call your doctor if you are a cancer patient and suffer from hives or itching.
Hives or Welts and Other Symptoms of Lymphoma
While hives and welts alone are usually not the sole indicator of a more serious disease such as lymphoma, when they are paired with other symptoms they can act as a warning sign. There are three distinct forms of lymphoma (www.cancer.org). Hodgkins and non-Hodgkins patients may suffer from itchiness paired with night sweats, weight loss, fever, fatigue, and swelling of the lymph nodes. Cutaneous T-Cell lymphoma (CTCL), which affects the skin, presents itchiness as well as skin infections, dark patches, and tumors. Hives are particularly associated with gastrointestinal, thyroid, and lymphoma cancers. Cutaneous T-Cell lymphoma is easily mistaken with eczema, psoriasis, and hives and welts caused by contact dermatitis. Corticosteroid creams used for these skin conditions can calm CTCL further delaying correct diagnosis for years. While hives and welts are not a cause for immediate panic, when they are paired with the above symptoms it is important to visit your doctor as multiple biopsies may be necessary to diagnose CTCL.
Hives Welt and Autoimmune Disease
Rashes are also symptoms of lupus and thyroid disease. Hives most often occur in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Grave’s disease (thyroid.about.com). Patients suffering from these two forms of thyroid disease typically have high levels of thyroid peroxidase antibodies and suffered from chronic hives or angioedema (effecting the deeper levels of the skin) without other indicators of the thyroid disease. Relief for patients with high antibody levels was found in levothyroxine treatment though for those without antibodies the drug has little effect. Hives can also be a symptom of celiac disease (inability to digest gluten). Interestingly in a study from 2008, individuals with thyroid disease were also found to have a high incidence (3.4% versus 0.6% and .25% in control groups) of celiac disease. Researchers also found that untreated celiac disease could trigger autoimmune responses and disease (http://thyroid.about.com/cs/latestresearch/a/celiac.htm). Hives can develop with systemic lupus, often indicating inflammation of the capillaries.
