Urticaria

Guidelines for the treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) recommend the use of the IgE-targeted biologic omalizumab in patients with antihistamine-refractory disease. The rationale for this is supported by the key role of IgE and its high-affinity receptor, FcεRI, in the degranulation of skin mast cells that drives the development of the signs and symptoms of CSU, itchy wheals, and angioedema. Here, we review the current understanding of the pathogenesis of CSU and its autoimmune endotypes. We describe the mechanisms of action of omalizumab, the only biologic currently approved for CSU, its efficacy and ways to improve it, biomarkers for treatment response, and strategies for its discontinuation...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: According to current guidelines, oral antihistamines are the first-line treatment for chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). Up-dosing antihistamines to 4-fold the licensed dose is recommended if control is not achieved. Such indications are based mainly on expert opinion. Objectives: To critically review and analyze clinical evidence on the efficacy and safety of higher-than-licensed dosage of second-generation oral antihistamines in the treatment of CSU. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic literature review was performed following a sensitive search strategy...

Many notable advances in drug allergy, urticaria, angioedema, and anaphylaxis were reported in 2018. Broad-spectrum antibiotic use and, consequently, antibiotic resistance are widespread, and algorithms to clarify β-lactam allergy and optimize antibiotic use were described. Meaningful data emerged on the pathogenesis of delayed drug hypersensitivity reactions. Progress not only in defining biomarkers but also in understanding the effect on quality of life and developing better treatments has been made for patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria...

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is characterized by typically short-lived and fleeting wheals, angioedema or both, which occur spontaneously and persist for longer than 6 weeks. This term is applied to the most common subtype of chronic urticaria. The underlying pathophysiology for CSU involves mast cell and basophil degranulation with release of histamine, leukotrienes, prostaglandins and other inflammatory mediators. Although a variety of treatments exist, many patients do not tolerate or benefit from the existing therapies and even require more effective treatments...

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Recurrent fever can be the sole or leading manifestation of a variety of diseases including malignancies, autoimmune diseases and infections. Because the differential diagnoses are manifold, no formal guidelines for the approach of patients with recurrent fever exists. The newly recognized group of autoinflammatory diseases are often accompanied by repetitive fever attacks. As these episodes are frequently associated by a variety of divergent presentations, the differentiation of other causes for febrile illnesses can be difficult...

Urticarial vasculitis (UV) is a rare form of cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis with persistent urticarial lesions. UV may be severe and refractory to standard treatment including antihistamines, anti-inflammatories, antimalarials, corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. Omalizumab, an anti-IgE antibody, is approved for chronic spontaneous urticaria. However, its benefit for UV remains controversial. We report, herein, three patients with normocomplementemic UV and angioedema. All patients were diagnosed with chronic urticaria preceding the presentation of painful urticarial plaques...

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BACKGROUND: Several treatment options for cold urticaria (ColdU) have been studied and reported, but systematic reviews and meta-analyses are limited. OBJECTIVES: We sought to meta-analyze and review the efficacy and safety of ColdU treatments. METHODS: We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations. Suitable reports were identified by searching PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

From its availability for clinical use nearly two decades ago for severe asthma, omalizumab has gained strong evidence of efficacy and safety in the treatment of severe asthma not controlled by standard-of-care therapy. It has been acknowledged by Global Initiative on Asthma guidelines as add-on therapy against severe uncontrolled asthma. Thanks to controlled trials supporting its efficacy, omalizumab has also been licensed for the treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria. The optimal duration of treatment in either disease has not been established...

Second-generation antihistamines are considered first-line agents in the treatment of chronic urticaria because of their safety and efficacy profile. Some patients require higher doses of H1 antihistamines alone or in combination with other classes of medications, including H2 antihistamines, leukotriene receptor antagonists, or first-generation H1 antihistamines. One major therapeutic advance has been omalizumab, a humanized monoclonal anti-immunoglobulin E that was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of chronic urticaria that is unresponsive to H1 antagonists...

Urticarial vasculitis (UV) is a difficult-to-treat condition characterized by long-lasting urticarial rashes and histopathologic findings of leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Treatment is dictated by the severity of skin and systemic involvement and the underlying systemic disease. This is a comprehensive systematic review of the efficacy of current UV treatment options. We searched for relevant studies in 7 databases, including MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science. In total, 261 eligible studies and 789 unique patients with UV were included in the systematic review...

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Sweat allergy is defined as a type I hypersensitivity against the contents of sweat, and is specifically observed in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) and cholinergic urticaria (CholU). The allergic reaction is clinically revealed by positive reactions in the intradermal skin test and the basophil histamine release assay by sweat. A major histamine-releasing antigen in sweat, MGL_1304, has been identified. MGL_1304 is produced at a size of 29 kDa by Malassezia (M.) globosa and secreted into sweat after being processed and converted into the mature form of 17 kDa...

Patients with chronic urticaria experience significant impairment, and require an effective treatment. Such treatment is preceded by a thorough diagnostic workup and measurement of disease activity, disease burden and disease control using well--established tools. Treatment is subsequently adjusted according to patient needs and therapeutic response, based on the tenet "as much as necessary, as little as possible" (in that order). Once disease control has been achieved, it is recommended that intermittent attempts at medication withdrawal be made in order to identify spontaneous disease remission...

The present survey represents the latest data on diagnosis and management of childhood urticaria. It has been observed that urticaria occurs less often in children than adults, with symptoms rarely lasting for over 6 weeks. Triggers or aggravating factors can be found only in 21%-55% of cases. Finding autoantibodies in children does not impact a disease prognosis, unlike in adult patients, where the presence of autoantibodies is associated with a more prolonged run of the disease, a more severe prognosis and more intensive treatment methods...

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This evidence- and consensus-based guideline was developed following the methods recommended by Cochrane and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) working group. The conference was held on 1 December 2016. It is a joint initiative of the Dermatology Section of the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), the EU-founded network of excellence, the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA²LEN), the European Dermatology Forum (EDF) and the World Allergy Organization (WAO) with the participation of 48 delegates of 42 national and international societies...

BACKGROUND: Existing guidelines do not offer a quick, efficient alternative to the patient's recollection of relevant clinical features during anamnesis and physical examination for chronic urticaria (CU). This study aimed to identify specific items reflecting the main characteristics of CU that should be included in a comprehensive medical history for patients with CU. We also aimed to clarify possible eliciting factors for CU to support accurate diagnosis of the disease. METHODS: A panel of postgraduate dermatologists conducted a literature search for relevant studies on CU using Medline, the Cochrane database, and PubMed...