Is CSU an Autoimmune Disease? What’s Really Causing Your Hives

Welcome to our latest episode of the Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Innovations podcast. In this episode, we address what happens inside the body in a condition called chronic spontaneous urticaria, or CSU. It’s also called chronic idiopathic urticaria, or CIU.

Many people think hives are caused by allergies. But with CSU, that’s not true. Instead, the immune system may react to the body’s own cells. This is called an autoimmune condition. 

Our podcast co-hosts, Dr. Payel Gupta and Kortney, explain what autoimmune means. They talk about why allergy testing often doesn’t give clear answers, and why IgG food tests can be confusing or even harmful. They also explain the two types of autoimmune CSU, and how each one works.

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This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Any mention of brands is also informational and not an endorsement. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical questions or concerns.

Thanks to Novartis for sponsoring this episode.

Key takeaways about CSU and autoimmune disease

Wondering what’s really behind your hives? We examine causes of CSU and how your immune system may be the reason:

  • What causes hives? A type of immune cell called a mast cell releases histamine, which leads to hives and swelling.
  • CSU is not caused by an allergy. It’s often confused with allergic reactions, but standard allergy tests usually don’t give helpful answers.
  • Autoimmune CSU means your immune system is attacking itself. Some people make IgE or IgG antibodies that trigger hives from the inside.

Timestamps for our episode about CSU

01:11 – What is CSU

02:32 – Mast cells and the immune system

04:11 – What a trigger means in CSU

07:28 – Why food allergy testing isn’t helpful

09:58 – Autoimmune causes of CSU

12:13 – Two types of autoimmune CSU

15:35 – Type I (autoallergic) CSU

17:53 – Type IIb autoimmune CSU

21:17 – Four possible causes of CSU

24:15 – Key takeaways about autoimmune CSU

Resources about chronic spontaneous urticaria

More podcasts about CSU