Rupatadine 20 mg and 40 mg are Effective in Reducing the Symptoms of Chronic Cold Urticaria.

Chronic cold urticaria (ColdU) is a rare disease characterized by mast cell-mediated wheals and angioedema following cold exposure. Second-generation H1-antihistamines, such as rupatadine, are the recommended first-line therapy. As of yet, the effects of rupatadine up-dosing on development of ColdU symptom have only been partially characterized. Two-centre, randomized, double-blind, 3-way crossover, placebo-controlled study in patients with a confirmed ColdU was designed to assess the effects of up-dosing of rupatadine. A total of 23 patients were randomized to receive placebo, rupatadine 20 mg/day, and rupatadine 40 mg/day for 1 week. The primary outcome was change in critical temperature thresholds and critical stimulation time thresholds after treatment. Secondary endpoints included assessment of safety and tolerability of rupatadine. Both 20 and 40 mg rupatadine were highly effective in reducing critical temperature thresholds (p < 0.001) and critical stimulation time thresholds (p < 0.001). In conclusion, rupatadine 20 and 40 mg significantly reduced the development of chronic cold urticaria symptom without an increase in adverse effects.

Physical urticarias and cholinergic urticaria.

Physical urticarias are a unique subgroup of chronic urticaria in which urticarial responses can be reproducibly induced by different specific physical stimuli acting on the skin. These conditions include urticaria factitia/symptomatic dermographism, delayed pressure urticaria, cold contact urticaria, heat contact urticaria, solar urticaria, and vibratory urticaria/angioedema. Physical urticarias and cholinergic urticarias are diagnosed based on the patients' history and provocation tests including trigger threshold testing where possible. Treatment is mainly symptomatic. Many patients benefit from avoiding eliciting triggers, and desensitization to these triggers can be helpful in some physical urticarias and in cholinergic urticaria.

Physical urticaria.

The physical urticarias are a heterogeneous subgroup of chronic urticarias in which wheals can be reproducibly induced by different specific physical stimuli such as cold, heat, pressure, vibration, or sunlight. Physical urticarias comprise up to 25 % of chronic urticarias and occur more frequently in young adults. Symptoms, i.e. wheal and flare responses or angioedema, are usually limited to the skin areas exposed to the eliciting stimulus. However, generalised urticaria with variable extracutaneous manifestations can also occur. Some patients may also present with more than one physical urticaria. Skin lesions in physical urticaria result from mast cell activation and mediator release. The mechanisms by which physical stimuli activate skin mast cells are not fully understood. Because of this, trigger avoidance and symptomatic treatment are key therapeutic concepts for physical urticarias. Identification of the inducing physical trigger, including its individual thresholds, is necessary for an effective therapy. Here, we have summarized clinical features, diagnostic workup and therapy options for physical urticarias.