Actualización práctica de diagnóstico y tratamiento de la urticaria crónica / Practical update for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic urticaria

Resumen La urticaria es un patrón distintivo de respuesta inflamatoria de piel y/o mucosas caracterizada por la aparición súbita de ronchas evanescentes, angioedema o ambos, asociados a prurito. Las formas agudas son frecuentes y se limitan a brotes de menos de 6 sema nas; mientras que las crónicas tienen una prevalencia menor al 1%, mayor duración y pueden ser espontáneas o inducibles. Los mecanismos etiopatogénicos involucrados en esta enfermedad incluyen la autoalergia, la autoinmunidad y la inflamación con la activación celular, principalmente del mastocito, lo que lleva a su degranulación con libe ración de mediadores vasoactivos. En su abordaje son fundamentales la confirmación diagnóstica; la búsqueda de indicadores de su etiopa togenia; la detección de cofactores que pueden modular su actividad; el reconocimiento de comorbilidades; la evaluación de posibles biomarcadores y, el impacto en la calidad de vida, el registro de la actividad y el control de la enfermedad. El manejo farmacológico tiene por objetivo controlar los síntomas, mientras la urticaria resuelve de forma espontánea. Este se describe de forma escalonada con una complejidad creciente.

Abstract Urticaria is a distinctive pattern of inflammatory re sponse of the skin and/or mucous membranes charac terized by the sudden appearance of vanishing wheals, angioedema, or both, associated with pruritus. Acute forms are frequent and limited to outbreaks of less than 6 weeks; while the chronic ones have a prevalence of less than 1%, longer duration and can be spontaneous or inducible. The etiopathogenic mechanisms involved in this disease include autoallergy, autoimmunity, and inflam mation with cell activation, mainly of the mast cell, leading to its degranulation with the release of vasoac tive mediators. Along its approach, diagnostic confirmation, search for indicators of its etiopathogenesis, detection of cofactors that can modulate its activity, recognition of comorbidi ties, evaluation of possible biomarkers and the assess ment of disease activity, impact and control are essential. The pharmacological management aims to control the symptoms, until the urticaria, which is self-resolv ing, is gone. This is described in a stepwise fashion with increasing complexity.

Biomarcadores na urticária crônica: qual o seu papel? / Biomarkers of chronic urticaria: what are their role?

A urticária é uma doença com comprometimento universal, e debilitante para a maioria dos pacientes. Caracteriza-se pela ocorrência de episódios de urticas, angioedema ou ambos, determinados pela ativação de mastócitos e outras células inflamatórias com a liberação de vários mediadores. Apresenta etiologia complexa com fenótipos e terapias bem específicas. A urticária crônica possui evolução recorrente e imprevisível, podendo estender-se por anos. Caracteristicamente possui maior prevalência no sexo feminino, com pico de ocorrência entre 20 e 40 anos. A doença pode ser diferenciada pela gravidade, impacto na qualidade de vida do paciente e resposta terapêutica. Biomarcador é uma característica clínica ou laboratorial mensurável de algum estado ou condição biológica, o qual pode influenciar ou prever a incidência de desfecho ou doença. O objetivo deste artigo é realizar uma revisão dos principais biomarcadores promissores e com melhor evidência relacionados à duração, atividade da doença e resposta terapêutica.

Urticaria is a disease of global importance that can be debilitating for most patients. It is characterized by episodes of wheals, angioedema, or both, determined by the activation of mast cells and other inflammatory cells with the release of several mediators. The etiology is complex, involving specific phenotypes and therapies. Chronic urticaria has a recurrent and unpredictable course that can last for years. The prevalence is typically higher in females, with a peak incidence between 20 and 40 years of age. The disease can be classified by severity, impact on quality of life, and therapeutic response. A biomarker is a measurable clinical or laboratory characteristic of a biological state or condition that can influence or predict the incidence of outcome or disease. This study provides a review of the main biomarkers considered promising and with the best evidence related to duration, disease activity, and therapeutic response.

Perfil de pacientes com urticária crônica espontânea submetidos ao tratamento com omalizumabe em Chapecó, SC / Profile of patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria treated with omalizumab in Chapecó, south of Brazil

Introdução: A urticária crônica espontânea é caracterizada por lesões máculo-papulares eritematosas, associadas a prurido e angioedema, que não possui estímulo externo reconhecido e de difícil controle. A primeira e a segunda linha terapêutica, disponibilizadas pelo Sistema Único de Saúde, não apresentam resultados significativos, os quais se tornam refratários. O omalizumabe, considerado terceira linha terapêutica e que não é amplamente disponibilizado pelo Sistema Único de Saúde, pode apresentar resultado significativo na interrupção dos sintomas da doença. Objetivo: O presente estudo tem como objetivo avaliar pacientes com urticária crônica espontânea que usaram ou estão em uso de omalizumabe. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo observacional transversal do tipo série de casos, cuja análise foi feita através dos prontuários, com população de 34 pacientes com urticária crônica espontânea submetidos ao tratamento com omalizumabe no Instituto de Olhos de Santa Catarina (IOSC). Resultados: Constatou-se no estudo que a maioria dos pacientes com urticária crônica espontânea em uso de omalizumabe é constituída do sexo feminino (76,5%) e idade média de 41 anos. A doença mais associada à urticária crônica espontânea foi depressão (38,2%). O sucesso do tratamento com omalizumabe é medido pelo questionário UAS7 (Urticaria Activity Score), o qual, segundo os dados dos prontuários, todos os pacientes apresentavam resultado maior que 35 pontos antes do uso da medicação, e 32 conseguiram alcançar um índice de 0 após o uso do omalizumabe, variando apenas no tempo de tratamento. Conclusão: A urticária crônica espontânea é uma doença que não tem cura e possui alta refratariedade, mas pode ter seus sintomas reduzidos, principalmente com o uso do omalizumabe, que se mostrou eficiente nos casos analisados.

Introduction: Chronic spontaneous urticaria is a disease characterized by erythematous maculopapular eruption, associated with itching and angioedema, that has no recognized external stimulus and is difficult to control. First- and second-line treatments, available through the Brazilian Unified Health System, do not yield meaningful results, and patients become refractory. Omalizumab, considered a third-line treatment and not widely available through the Brazilian Unified Health System, may yield meaningful results in halting disease symptoms. Objective: To evaluate patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria who have used or are using omalizumab. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional case series observational study with a review of the medical records of 34 patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria treated with omalizumab at the Eye Institute of Santa Catarina, south of Brazil. Results: Most patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria receiving omalizumab were female (76.5%) with a mean age of 41 years. The disease most commonly associated with chronic spontaneous urticaria was depression (38.2%). Omalizumab treatment success was measured with the Urticaria Activity Score (UAS7). Based on data extracted from the medical records, all 34 patients had a score greater than 35 before treatment. After receiving omalizumab, 32 patients managed to reach a score of 0, differing only in the duration of treatment. Conclusion: Chronic spontaneous urticaria is an incurable, highly refractory disease, but its symptoms can be reduced mainly with the use of omalizumab, which proved to be effective in the cases analyzed here.

Oral mite anaphylaxis (pancake syndrome) in Peru: an underestimated problem? / Anafilaxia por ingesta de ácaros (Síndrome da panqueca) no Peru: um problema subestimado?

Sabe-se que a urticária e o angioedema apresentam diferentes etiologias, pois podem ser de natureza alérgica, infecciosa, autoimune ou espontânea. Em episódios únicos ou recorrentes, deve-se considerar um alérgeno desencadeante oculto, como os ácaros de poeira doméstica (APDs). Vários relatos demonstraram que farinhas contaminadas com APDs podem causar urticária e angioedema, incluindo reações alérgicas graves com risco de vida quando ingeridos em grandes quantidades provenientes de farinha de trigo armazenada. Neste estudo, relatamos os achados clínicos de 31 pacientes, incluindo casos de anafilaxia após ingestão de farinha contaminada com ácaros. Também encontramos uma relação entre uma história clínica de hipersensibilidade a anti-inflamatórios não esteroides e síndrome de anafilaxia por ingesta de ácaros em pacientes atópicos, consistente com a teoria de uma "nova tríade do ácido acetilsalicílico", conforme publicado anteriormente, e agora sendo descrito pela primeira vez no Peru.

Urticaria and angioedema are known to have different etiologies, as they can be allergic, infectious, autoimmune, or spontaneous in nature. In single or recurrent episodes, a hidden triggering allergen should be considered, such as house dust mites (HDMs). Several reports have demonstrated that flours contaminated with HDMs can cause urticaria and angioedema, including severe lifethreatening allergic reactions when ingested in large quantities from stored wheat flour. In this study, we report the clinical findings in 31 patients, including cases of anaphylaxis after the ingestion of mite-contaminated flour. We also found a relationship between a clinical history of hypersensitivity to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and oral mite anaphylaxis syndrome in atopic patients, consistent with the theory of a "new aspirin triad," as previously published, and now being described for the first time in Peru.

Coexistência de doenças autoimunes: oportunidade para a associação de imunobiológicos? / Coexisting autoimmune diseases: an opportunity to associate immunobiologicals?

O tratamento das doenças autoimunes com imunobiológicos é uma opção segura na prática clínica. A simultaneidade na ocorrência de doenças imunomediadas em um mesmo indivíduo pode determinar a necessidade da associação dos imunobiológicos para controle dos sintomas e melhora da qualidade de vida dos doentes. Relatamos o caso de uma paciente com artrite reumatoide em uso de etanercepte, que necessitou da associação de omalizumabe para o tratamento de urticária crônica espontânea.

Autoimmune diseases can be safely treated in clinical practice with immunobiologicals. The simultaneous occurrence of multiple immune-mediated diseases in the same individual could require a combination of immunobiologicals to control symptoms and improve quality of life. We report the case of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis who was receiving etanercept and required additional omalizumab for chronic spontaneous urticaria.

O omalizumabe no tratamento da urticária no contexto da pandemia de COVID-19 / Omalizumab as urticaria treatment in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

O início da pandemia de COVID-19 foi marcado por incertezas diante do desconhecimento sobre a doença. Uma série de dúvidas relacionadas ao uso de imunobiológicos no contexto da pandemia foi levantada, inclusive em relação ao tratamento com omalizumabe em pacientes com urticária crônica (UC). Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar os dados relacionados à gravidade da COVID-19 e a evolução da urticária em pacientes em terapia com omalizumabe acompanhados por especialistas no Brasil. Foi realizada análise retrospectiva de dados de pacientes com UC tratados com omalizumabe entre julho/2020 e junho/2021 que apresentaram COVID-19. Foram avaliados dados relacionados às características clínicas dos pacientes e evolução da urticária durante a infecção pelo SARS-CoV2. Foram incluídos 28 pacientes em tratamento com omalizumabe, sendo 27 com urticária crônica espontânea (UCE), dos quais 25% tinham alguma urticária induzida associada. A maior parte dos pacientes (71%) estavam utilizando doses quadruplicadas de anti-histamínicos modernos de 2ª geração associados ao omalizumabe. Todos os pacientes estavam com os sintomas controlados. Entre os sintomas apresentados durante a COVID-19, os mais frequentes foram: febre (43%), cefaleia (36%), mal-estar (32%), hipo/anosmia (29%) e tosse (21%). Quatro pacientes foram hospitalizados, um deles em unidade de terapia intensiva. Um paciente relatou piora dos sintomas da UC durante a COVID-19. Cinco (18%) pacientes apresentaram piora dos sintomas da UC após a resolução da COVID-19. Todos os pacientes se recuperaram da COVID-19 sem sequelas graves. O OMA não pareceu aumentar o risco de COVID-19 grave e poderia ser usado com segurança em pacientes com UC.

The beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic was marked by uncertainty due to lack of knowledge about the disease. Questions were raised about the use of immunobiologicals in the pandemic context, including omalizumab for patients with chronic urticaria (UC). This study assessed COVID-19 severity and the clinical course of urticaria in Brazilian patients on omalizumab therapy who were monitored by specialists. We retrospectively analyzed data from chronic urticaria patients treated with omalizumab between July, 2020 and June, 2021 who presented with COVID- 19. Clinical characteristics and the course of urticaria during SARS-CoV2 infection were analyzed. The sample consisted of 28 patients treated with omalizumab, 27 of whom had chronic spontaneous urticaria (UCE) and 25% of whom had associated chronic inducible urticaria. Most of the patients (71%) were using quadruple doses of second-generation antihistamines associated with omalizumab. The symptoms of all patients were controlled. The most frequent symptoms during COVID-19 were: fever (43%), headache (36%), malaise (32%), hypo/anosmia (29%) and cough (21%). Four patients were hospitalized, including 1 in intensive care. One patient reported worsening chronic urticaria symptoms while infected with COVID-19. Five (18%) patients experienced worsening chronic urticaria symptoms after recovery from COVID-19. All patients recovered from COVID-19 without serious sequelae. Omalizumab did not appear to increase the risk of severe COVID-19 and can be safely used in patients with chronic urticaria.

Anaphylaxis and systemic mastocytosis caused by Solenopsis invicta stings / Anafilaxia e mastocitose sistêmica ocasionada pela Solenopsis invicta

Indolent systemic mastocytosis is a rare disease characterized by an increased number of mast cells in the bone marrow and other tissues, such as the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, and skin. Patients with indolent systemic mastocytosis and high serum tryptase levels are at risk for Hymenoptera venom-induced anaphylaxis. Hymenoptera venom immunotherapy in patients with specific IgE is safe and effective. While some patients can receive ultra-rush venom immunotherapy with minimal side effects, omalizumab effectively protects against anaphylaxis during the build-up phase.

A mastocitose sistêmica indolente é uma doença rara caracterizada por um número aumentado de mastócitos na medula óssea e em outros tecidos, como fígado, baço, linfonodos e pele. Pacientes com mastocitose sistêmica indolente e altos níveis séricos de triptase correm risco de anafilaxia induzida pelo veneno dos Hymenoptera. A imunoterapia com veneno de himenópteros em pacientes com IgE específica é segura e eficaz. Embora alguns pacientes possam receber imunoterapia com veneno ultrarrápido com efeitos colaterais mínimos, o omalizumabe protegeu efetivamente contra a anafilaxia durante a fase de acúmulo.

Adaptation and validation of the Bengali version of the Chronic Urticaria Quality of Life Questionnaire (CU-Q2oL)

Background: Chronic urticaria exerts a profound impact on quality of life. Recent guidelines recommend its evaluation in all chronic urticaria patients. Currently, the Chronic Urticaria Quality of Life Questionnaire (CU-Q2oL) is the only validated tool to assess chronic urticaria-specific quality of life. Objective: To validate and adapt the CU-Q2oL to the Bengali language for its widespread use. Methods: The CU-Q2oL questionnaire was translated into Bengali. Its internal consistency and reliability were tested by asking 42 chronic urticaria patients to complete this version. They completed the validated Bengali Dermatology Life Quality Index and Urticaria Control test questionnaires, and their scores were correlated with CU-Q2oL score to assess the validity of our Bengali version. Results: The mean CU-Q2oL score of our patients (mean age 38.41 ± 13.4 years, male: female 29:13) was 48.8 ± 16.5. Domain 4 (sleep problems) was worst affected, followed by domain 1 (pruritus), while domain 2 (swelling) was least affected. We detected an excellent overall internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.93) of our version and nearly complete agreement (intra-class correlation coefficient = 0.91) between the test-retest scores. We found a significant positive correlation between the overall CU-Q2oL and Dermatology Life Quality Index scores (rs = 0.53, P = 0.0002), thus implying the validity of our version. Additionally, we noted a significant negative correlation between the overall CU-Q2oL and Urticaria Control test scores (rs = -0.48, P = 0.0007), suggestive of a more severe impairment of quality of life with poorer disease control. Limitations: Small sample size, observational design and bias in test-retest reliability analysis due to the use of rescue therapy in-between assessment sessions were important limitations of our study. Conclusion: The Bengali version of CU-Q2oL questio

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the course of refractory chronic spontaneous urticaria under omalizumab treatment

Abstract Background: The course of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) can be influenced by infections, depression, and stress. Objectives: Our aim was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the course of refractory CSU together with patient adherence to omalizumab and treatment adjustments. Methods: Urticaria Activity Score (UAS7) was used to assess disease activity. Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FC-19s), and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21s) were performed to assess mental health status. All scales were performed during the Quarantine Period (QP) and Return to the Normal Period (RTNP). UAS7 Before Pandemic (BP) was recorded from the patients medical records. Results: The authors evaluated 104 omalizumab-receiving CSU patients. UAS7 scores during QP were significantly higher than those in RTNP and BP (p < 0.01). DASS-21 and FC-19 scores were significantly higher during QP compared to RTNP (p < 0.01). Nineteen (18.2%) patients ceased omalizumab, 9 patients prolonged the intervals between subsequent doses during the pandemic. UAS7 scores in QP were significantly higher in patients who ceased omalizumab than in those who continued (p < 0.001). Among patients who continued omalizumab, 22.4% had an increase in urticaria activity and higher FC-19 scores in comparison with those with stable disease activity (p = 0.008). Study limitations: The small sample size of patients with prolonged intervals of omalizumab and the lack of mental health evaluation with the same tools prior to the study. Conclusions: Fear induced by COVID-19 can determine an increase in disease activity. Therefore, patients on omalizumab should continue their treatment and prolonged interval without omalizumab can be considered in patients with good urticaria control.

Consenso para el manejo práctico de la urticaria en atención primaria

Introduction: urticaria has a high impact on the quality of life of patients with this condition. While there are multiple evidence-based guidelines, these tend to be aimed at providing management recommendations for specialists rather than primary care physicians, who are usually the first to care for patients with urticaria. Objective: to develop a consensus document aimed at presenting evidence-based recommendations to help general practitioners, family doctors, pediatricians, internists and emergency physicians provide timely care for patients with urticaria, facilitating its diagnosis and timely care, and thus avoiding delays for the patients. Methods: international urticaria guidelines with recommendations based on the GRADE system were used as the source of information. Delegates of the interested scientific societies were convened, and, through structured meetings, treatment barriers and possible solutions for the application of the recommendations in primary care were identified. Results: the main barriers for primary care physicians in applying the guidelines were identified: confusion in the diagnosis, proper timing of treatment, first-line medications, and management of special situations. Possible consensus solutions were proposed for each identified barrier. Conclusion: this consensus document contains recommendations for the management and treatment of acute and chronic urticaria which help primary care physicians provide timely and effective treatment for patients with this disease. (Acta Med Colomb 2022; 48. DOI:https://doi.org/10.36104/amc.2023.2722).

Application Analysis of Animal Models of Urticaria Based on Bibliometrics / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo summarize the modeling methods, test indicators, and evaluation methods of the animal models of urticaria and provide a basis for the subsequent research on urticaria models. MethodWith the keywords of "urticaria" and "animal model" and the time interval from inception to July 13, 2022, relevant articles were retrieved from CNKI, Wanfang Data, VIP, CBM, Web of Science, Embase, and PubMed. Two evaluators independently screened the articles and extracted the publishing time, sources, animal conditions, modeling methods, modeling time, and test indicators from the articles meeting the inclusion criteria to establish a data library for quantitative statistics and analysis. ResultA total of 116 articles were included, involving 129 animal experiments (102 in Chinese and 27 in English) of urticaria. In the last three years, the studies about the animal models of urticaria presented an obvious upward trend, and the articles were dominated by dissertations. KM mice and SD rats of both females and males were mainly used for the modeling of urticaria, and the models were mainly established by passive sensitization of skin for 14-16 days. The models were mainly evaluated based on apparent indicators such as blue-stained lesion area and ear swelling, supplemented by the pathological indicators of the skin and serum. ConclusionAlthough the experimental studies of urticaria are increasing, the modeling methods lack unified modeling standards and have low coincidence with clinical symptoms. Therefore, this paper analyzed the modeling elements and evaluation criteria of urticaria animal models, and proposed that both male and female KM mice (6-8 weeks old) or SD rats (8-10 weeks old) of SPF grade should be preferentially selected for modeling. Active and passive sensitization can be combined for the modeling, and the specific modeling elements such as modeling time and sensitization times need to be further explored. The model evaluation should include four aspects of behavior, appearance, pathology, and immunity.

Autoimmune pathogenesis of chronic spontaneous urticarial / 中华皮肤科杂志

The autoimmune pathogenesis of chronic spontaneous urticaria was first proposed in 2013 by Konstantinou et al. In recent years, genetic, epigenetic, and immunological studies have provided supporting evidence for the autoimmune pathogenesis of chronic spontaneous urticaria, and this review summarizes relevant research progress.

Progress in the treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria: insights from the changes in the understanding of its pathogenesis / 中华皮肤科杂志

Mast cells, autoantibodies, inflammatory cells, coagulation cascade, complement system and nervous system are all involved in the complex pathogenesis of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) , while mast cells play a pivotal role in it. With deeper understanding of the pathogenesis of CSU, cutting-edge therapeutic methods are gradually being used in clinical practice. Nowadays, pharmacotherapyeutic studies are more focused on accurately modulating the pathological state of mast cells. This review summarizes recent advances in the pathogenesis of and medicines for CSU.

Clinical features of chronic spontaneous urticaria in China: results from a hospital-based multicenter epidemiological survey / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective:To investigate clinical features of patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) in China.Methods:A questionnaire survey was carried out in CSU patients at the first visit and 4 follow-up visits in Departments of Dermatology of 12 third-grade hospitals in northern and southern China from January to December 2019. The survey content included demographic characteristics, pruritus intensity, the number of wheals, concomitant symptoms (such as pain in skin lesions, arthralgia, fever) during the last week prior to the admission, classification and subtypes of urticaria, and previous and current treatment regimens, etc., and the 7-day urticaria activity score (UAS7) was used to evaluate the therapeutic effect. Patients from 9 hospitals in Sichuan, Hubei and Fujian provinces were enrolled into the southern China group, and patients from 3 hospitals in Beijing municipality and Liaoning province were enrolled into the northern China group. Differences between groups were analyzed by two-independent-sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U test or chi-square test. Results:Overall, 1 396 CSU outpatients were enrolled, including 592 males and 804 females; their age was 38.32 ± 16.13 years, 1 109 (79.5%) were aged between 20 and 60 years, and 660 (47.3%) were aged between 20 and 40 years. Their age at onset was 35.85 ± 16.03 years, and the disease duration was 0.50 (0.25, 2.00) years. Allergic diseases were the most common concomitant diseases, 269 (19.3%) patients were diagnosed with accompanied allergic rhinitis or conjunctivitis, 169 (14%) with accompanied eczema/dermatitis, 39 (2.8%) with accompanied asthma; only 19 (1.4%) CSU patients had a history of thyroid diseases, but 133 (9.5%) were positive for anti-thyroid peroxidase (TPO) or anti-thyroglobulin (Tg) antibodies at the visit; elevated serum total IgE levels were observed in 437 (31.3%) patients, and 104 (7.4%) were positive for autoantibodies. There were 1 078 (77.2%) patients in the southern China group and 318 (22.8%) in the northern China group, and the southern China group showed significantly longer disease duration (2.16 ± 4.76 years vs. 1.53 ± 2.80 years, P < 0.001) , and significantly higher proportions of patients with family history (10.7% vs. 3.5%) , with painful lesions (5.8% vs. 0.9%) , and those with arthralgia (10.7% vs. 0) compared with the northern China group (all P < 0.05) . The three most prevalent urticaria subtypes were CSU (835 cases, 49.9%) , symptomatic dermographism (437 cases, 31.3%) , and angioedema (138 cases, 9.9%) , and the proportion of patients with the single diagnosis of CSU was significantly higher in the southern China group (53%) than in the northern China group (38.9%, P < 0.001) . In terms of treatment, 1 365 (97.8%) patients received conventional-dose second-generation H1 antihistamines alone or in combination, and only 31 (2.2%) were treated with antihistamines at high doses; other medicines were mostly administered in combination, and compound glycyrrhizin was most frequently prescribed (36.6%) , while omalizumab was only administered in 7 patients (0.5%) . Conclusions:Significant differences in the clinical features of CSU were observed between northern and southern China. Nowadays traditional modalities are inadequate for the treatment of CSU, and new therapeutic drugs are somewhat promising.

Efficacy and safety of omalizumab in the treatment of chronic urticaria: a retrospective analysis / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective:To retrospectively analyze clinical efficacy and safety of omalizumab in the treatment of chronic urticaria (CU) in southern Zhejiang, China.Methods:A retrospective observational study was conducted on CU patients who received omalizumab treatment at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from January 1st, 2018 to August 1st, 2021. Through the outpatient follow-up visits, the disease activity, condition control, and quality of life were evaluated using the 7-day urticaria activity score (UAS7) , urticaria control test (UCT) , and dermatology life quality index (DLQI) . In addition, changes in disease condition, recurrence after withdrawal, and adverse events were assessed. Independent-sample t test was used for intergroup comparisons of normally distributed measurement data, Wilcoxon signed-rank sum test or Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparisons of non-normally distributed measurement data, and chi-square test or Fisher′s exact test was used for comparisons of enumeration data. Results:A total of 252 CU patients with poor response to antihistamines were included, with a baseline UCT score of 5.0 ± 2.4 points, a UAS7 score of 25.6 ± 6.2 points, and a DLQI score of 17.5 ± 4.7 points; among them, 204 (81.0%) were treated with omalizumab at an initial dose of 300 mg, and 48 (19.0%) with omalizumab at an initial dose of 150 mg. At the end points (12.0 ± 1.4 months after the start of treatment) , an overall control rate of 90.3% (224/248) was achieved after the omalizumab treatment; concretely, 137 (55.2%) patients achieved complete control (UCT = 16 points) , 87 (35.1%) achieved partial control (12 points ≤ UCT < 16 points) , and 24 (9.7%) showed no response (UCT < 12 points) , while 10 with partial response shifted to complete control after dose increase. During the treatment period, recurrence occurred in 50 patients (36.5%) , of whom 32 patients opted for retreatment with omalizumab, and then 30 (93.8%) achieved partial or complete control. Adverse events were reported in 8 patients (3.2%) , and all were mild or moderate.Conclusion:Omalizumab was effective in the real-world treatment of CU, and could improve patients′ quality of life, with a favorable safety profile.

Omalizumab for the treatment of 74 patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria accompanied by other allergic diseases: a clinical analysis / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of omalizumab in the treatment of patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria accompanied by other allergic diseases.Methods:Clinical data were retrospectively collected from 74 patients, who were clinically diagnosed with chronic spontaneous urticaria and other allergic diseases, and received subcutaneous injections of omalizumab in the Department of Allergy, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital from June 2020 to September 2022. Types of allergic diseases, serum total IgE (tIgE) and allergen-specific IgE (sIgE) levels before treatment, treatment outcomes and adverse drug reactions were analyzed. Differences before and after treatment were assessed using paired t-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank sum test. Results:A total of 74 patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria were involved, including 29 with complicated allergic asthma (39.2%) , 61 with complicated allergic rhinitis (82.4%) , 6 with complicated atopic dermatitis (8.1%) , and 4 with food allergy (5.4%) . Before treatment, elevated serum tIgE or sIgE levels were observed in 44 (59.5%) patients. After the first omalizumab treatment, the urticaria control test (UCT) score significantly increased compared with that before treatment (16.00 [13.0.0, 16.00] vs. 6.00 [5.75, 9.00], Z = 7.39, P < 0.001) ; after 4 sessions of the omalizumab treatment, 82.5% (33/40) of the patients achieved complete control of urticaria symptoms or showed complete response. After omalizumab treatment, asthmatic attacks were decreased in 29 patients with allergic asthma, and asthma control test (ACT) scores significantly increased compared with those before treatment (21.07 ± 2.88 points [after the first treatment] vs. 18.48 ± 3.20 points [before treatment], t = 8.87, P < 0.001) ; among 61 patients with allergic rhinitis, global rhinitis symptom-based visual analog scale (VAS) scores (before treatment: 5.89 ± 1.29 points; after the first treatment: 3.28 ±1.46 points) and rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) scores (before treatment: 60.10 ± 20.53 points; after the first treatment: 37.26 ± 18.83 points) both significantly decreased after the first treatment ( t = 15.04, 10.01, respectively, both P < 0.001) , and rhinitis symptoms were relieved at the same time; skin itching was relieved in 4 patients with atopic dermatitis, and allergic symptoms after contact with food allergens were also relieved in the 2 patients with food allergy after omalizumab treatment. During the treatment, only 1 patient experienced erythematous swelling, induration, and pain at the injection site. Conclusions:In the treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria accompanied by allergic diseases, the use of omalizumab not only effectively improved urticaria symptoms, but also well controlled allergic diseases, with a good safety profile. Multiple benefits may be achieved by the use of omalizumabin in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria accompanied by other allergic diseases.

Efficacy of omalizumab in the treatment of chronic urticaria patients with poor response to antihistamines: a single-center retrospective study / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of omalizumab in the treatment of chronic urticaria (CU) patients with poor response to H1 antihistamines.Methods:CU patients, who showed poor response to H1 antihistamines and received omalizumab treatment, were collected from the Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University from June 2020 to June 2021. The efficacy of omalizumab was evaluated by using the 7-day urticaria activity score (UAS7) and urticaria control test (UCT) score at weeks 4, 12 and 24 after the start of treatment. The t-test, chi-square test, and Pearson correlation analysis were used to analyze the relationship between the clinical characteristics and efficacy. Results:A total of 121 CU patients who met the inclusion criteria and had relatively complete medical records were included in this study, including 54 males (44.63%) and 67 females (55.37%) , and their ages ranged from 13 to 70 years (39.88 ± 14.36 years) ; 88 patients were diagnosed with chronic spontaneous urticaria (72.73%) , 10 with chronic inducible urticaria (8.26%) , and 23 with chronic spontaneous urticaria accompanied by chronic inducible urticaria (19.01%) . At week 4 after the start of omalizumab treatment, the response rate was 50.86% (59/116) , and the complete response rate was 25.86% (30/116) ; at week 12, the response rate was 78.26% (54/69) , and the complete response rate was 34.78% (24/69) ; at week 24, the response rate was 64.71% (22/34) , and the complete response rate was 23.53% (8/34) . At week 4, CU patients with baseline serum total IgE levels of < 40 IU/ml had a lower response rate (26 cases, 30.77%) than those with baseline serum total IgE levels of ≥ 40 IU/ml (61 cases, 65.57%; χ2 = 8.93, P = 0.004) . Correlation analysis showed that the age at treatment, age at onset, allergic diseases, concomitant symptoms, baseline erythrocyte sedimentation rates, and baseline C-reactive protein levels were significantly correlated with the UCT scores (all P < 0.05) , while the course of disease, clinical types, serum total IgE levels, peripheral blood counts, dermatology life quality index scores, and UAS7 scores were not significantly correlated with the UCT scores. Among the 121 CU patients, 8 (6.61%) reported mild to moderate adverse reactions. Conclusion:Omalizumab could effectively improve clinical symptoms and signs of CU patients with poor response to H1 antihistamines, and was well tolerated;omalizumab treatment may be more beneficial to patients without allergic comorbidities such as allergic rhinitis, without concomitant symptoms such as angioedema, and with lower erythrocyte sedimentation rates and C-reactive protein levels.

Clinical analysis of allergen reactivity and atopic disease history in 168 patients with chronic inducible urticaria / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective:To analyze the relationship between allergen reactivity, atopic disease history and clinical features in patients with chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU) .Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data and follow-up results from 168 patients with CIndU in the Department of Dermatology, Southwest Hospital of Army Medical University from June 2014 to June 2015. Associations were analyzed between allergen reactivity, atopic disease history and clinical characteristics (including patient global assessment [PGA] scores, pruritus intensity, dermatology life quality index [DLQI], proportions of cases with complicated angioedema, natural course, etc.) in patients with different CIndU subtypes. Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results:Among the 168 patients with CIndU, 117 were diagnosed with symptomatic dermographism (SD) , 32 with cold contact urticaria (CCU) , 5 with heat contact urticaria (HCU) , and 14 with cholinergic urticaria (CholU) ; there were 46 (39.3%) , 14 (43.8%) , 3, and 9 patients with positive skin prick test (SPT) among the patients with SD, CCU, HCU and CholU respectively, and no significant difference was observed in the positive rate of SPT among patients with different CIndU subtypes ( χ2 = 3.86, P = 0.283) . The SPT-positive CIndU patients showed significantly increased PGA scores, pruritus scores, DLQI scores and proportions of cases with complicated angioedema compared with the SPT-negative patients (all P<0.05) ; the CIndU patients with a personal or family history of atopic diseases also showed significantly increased PGA and DLQI scores compared with those without (both P < 0.05) . For different CIndU subtypes, the pruritus scores, PGA scores, DLQI scores, and proportions of cases with complicated angioedema were significantly higher in the SPT-positive SD patients than in the SPT-negative SD patients (all P < 0.05) ; the DLQI scores were significantly higher in the SPT-positive CholU patients than in the SPT-negative CholU patients ( Z = -2.28, P = 0.019) ; the pruritus scores were significantly higher in the CCU patients with a personal or family history of atopic diseases than in those without ( Z =-2.41, P = 0.022) . Conclusion:The allergen reactivity and atopic disease history of CIndU patients were associated with disease severity, pruritus intensity, quality of life, and the proportion of cases with complicated angioedema, but their relationship with the natural course of CIndU needs to be confirmed by further studies.

Construction of "Expert consensus on diagnosis and treatment of chronic inducible urticaria in China (2023) " based on the Delphi method / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective:To construct "Expert consensus on diagnosis and treatment of chronic inducible urticaria in China (2023) " based on the Delphi method, and to provide a methodological basis for consensus construction.Methods:After systematic search and evaluation of the literature related to chronic inducible urticaria, the first draft of "Expert consensus on diagnosis and treatment of chronic inducible urticaria in China (2023) " was written, and a questionnaire was designed for expert consultation. A representative sample of 25 experts was selected to conduct two rounds of correspondence consultation via electronic questionnaire in strict accordance with the Delphi method, and the content of the consensus was revised and improved according to the consultation results.Results:The response rates in the two rounds of questionnaire consultation were both 100%, and the expert authority coefficient was 0.92 ± 0.09. In the first round of consultation, the coefficients of variation (CV values) of 9 items were greater than 20%, and the mean agreement degree of 3 items was less than 7 points; in the second round of consultation, the CV values of all items were less than 15%, the agreement degree of the above 3 items whose mean agreement degree was less than 7 points in the first round of consultation all rose to over 7 points, and the median agreement degree of all items was greater than or equal to 8 points. Reliability analysis of the two rounds of questionnaire results showed that the Cronbach α coefficient and standardized Cronbach α coefficient were both greater than 0.9; the P values in the agreement tests by using Kendall′s coefficient of concordance for the two rounds of questionnaire results were both less than 0.001, and the Kendall′s coefficients of concordance were 0.170 and 0.219 in the first and second rounds of questionnaire consultation, respectively. Conclusion:The Delphi method-based "Expert consensus on diagnosis and treatment of chronic inducible urticaria in China (2023) " is highly representative, authoritative and reliable; this study also provides a methodological reference for the formulation and research of consensus.

Development and application of clinical assessment tools for cholinergic urticaria / 中华皮肤科杂志

This review comprehensively summarizes clinical assessment tools which have been developed and validated for cholinergic urticaria (CholU) , involving diagnosis and severity assessment of CholU, assessment of patients′ quality of life, and assessment of disease control. The application methods and status of relevant tools in clinical practice are introduced in detail.