Med. praxi. 2022;19(3):197-200 | DOI: 10.36290/med.2022.031

Chronic urticaria - differential diagnosis and therapy

MUDr. Eva Švarcová

Immunoflow, s. r. o., Praha

Chronic Urticaria (CU) is a skin disease based on the episodic appearance of urticarial lesions with or without angioedema, on most days of the week, for a period of six weeks or longer. The lesions wax and wane rapidly, usually within 24 hours. Chronic spontaneous urticaria occurs more frequently in patients with autoimmune disorders. Triggers such as medications, physical stimuli, and stress can be identified in 10 to 20% of cases. In diagnostics, the typical clinical features and the detailed anamnesis are the most helpful. Laboratory testing should include examination of C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, complete blood count with differential, eventually IgG anti thyroperoxidase, and total IgE. The mainstay of therapy is patient education, avoidance of known triggers, and pharmacotherapy. Second-generation H1 antihistamines are the drugs of the first choice. If satisfactory improvement does not occur, the dose of antihistamines can be increased up to fourfold. For severe cases of chronic spontaneous urticaria is reserved the therapy with omalizumab.

Keywords: urticaria, angioedema, antihistamines.

Published: June 16, 2022  Show citation