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Cassano N, Genovese G, Asero R, Crimi N, Cristaudo A, Dapavo P, DE Pità O, Ferrucci S, Fierro MT, Foti C, Girolomoni G, Nettis E, Offidani A, Patrizi A, Pepe P, Pigatto P, Stingeni L, Marzano AV, Vena GA. Therapeutic management of chronic spontaneous urticaria in clinical practice: results from a pilot survey. Ital J Dermatol Venerol 2020; 157:33-38. [PMID: 33228338 DOI: 10.23736/s2784-8671.20.06761-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The therapeutic approaches to patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) differ among health care professionals and may be influenced by many factors. This cross-sectional survey was aimed at evaluating physicians' attitudes regarding therapeutic management of CSU in clinical practice. METHODS A study-specific questionnaire was administered to a group of physicians (N.=21) with a specialist interest in CSU from different areas of Italy (group A) and also to other physicians (N.=25) who manage CSU only occasionally in their clinical activity (group B). RESULTS In case of ineffectiveness of second-generation antihistamines at standard doses, higher doses of the same drug were always or frequently prescribed by most physicians in both groups, and 64% in group B and one third in group A usually increased the dose up to twice. Old-generation antihistamines were never used in clinical practice by 14% of survey participants in group A and 24% in group B, with the remaining physicians reporting rare or occasional uses. The prescription of systemic corticosteroids appeared to be more common among physicians in group B. The question concerning the use of alternative drugs in refractory CSU produced different answers between the two groups. Costs and access to specialist reference centers were indicated as the most important barriers to the use of medications different from antihistamines. CONCLUSIONS These preliminary results suggest that therapeutic approaches to CSU seem to be heterogeneous in clinical practice and could be at least in part conditioned by the different medical settings where physicians usually work.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Giovanni Genovese
- Dermatology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.,Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Riccardo Asero
- Outpatient Service of Allergology, San Carlo Clinic, Paderno Dugnano, Milan, Italy
| | - Nunzio Crimi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine-Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Antonio Cristaudo
- Service of Occupational and Environmental Allergic Dermatology, San Gallicano Dermatology Institute for Research and Care, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Dapavo
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Dermatology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Ornella DE Pità
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Cristo Re Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Ferrucci
- Dermatology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria T Fierro
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Dermatology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Caterina Foti
- Section of Dermatology, Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Giampiero Girolomoni
- Section of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Eustachio Nettis
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, School of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Aldo Moro University, Bari, Italy
| | - Annamaria Offidani
- Dermatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic Marche University, Ancona, Italy
| | - Annalisa Patrizi
- Dermatology Unit, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Patrizia Pepe
- Dermatology Unit, Surgical, Medical and Dental Department of Morphological Sciences Related to Transplant, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Paolo Pigatto
- Section of Clinical Dermatology, Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, IRCCS Galeazzi Orthopedic Institute, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Stingeni
- Section of Clinical, Allergological and Venereological Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Angelo V Marzano
- Dermatology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy - .,Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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Antia C, Baquerizo K, Korman A, Alikhan A, Bernstein JA. Urticaria: A comprehensive review: Treatment of chronic urticaria, special populations, and disease outcomes. J Am Acad Dermatol 2019; 79:617-633. [PMID: 30241624 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2018.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
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. In addition, the second article in this continuing medical education series outlines several evidence-based alternative treatments for urticaria and the differences in recommendations between 2 major consensus groups (the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology/World Allergy Organization and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology/American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Joint Task Force).
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Antia
- Department of Dermatology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio.
| | | | - Abraham Korman
- College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Ali Alikhan
- Department of Dermatology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
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Balp MM, Weller K, Carboni V, Chirilov A, Papavassilis C, Severin T, Tian H, Zuberbier T, Maurer M. Prevalence and clinical characteristics of chronic spontaneous urticaria in pediatric patients. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2018; 29:630-636. [PMID: 29679413 DOI: 10.1111/pai.12910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Data on the prevalence and disease management of chronic urticaria (CU) and chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) in the pediatric population are scarce. This study assessed the prevalence of CU and CSU, and disease management among pediatric patients (0-17 years). METHODS A physician-based online survey was conducted in 5 European countries (United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, France, and Spain) assessing the annual diagnosed prevalence, disease characteristics, and treatment patterns in the target population. Results are based on physician responses and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Prevalence estimates were calculated based on the number of CU/CSU pediatric patients diagnosed, seen, and treated by the respondents and extrapolated to the total pediatric population from each country. RESULTS Across 5 European countries, the one-year diagnosed prevalence of CU and CSU in pediatric patients was 1.38% (95% CI, 0.94-1.86) and 0.75% (95% CI, 0.44-1.08), respectively. Angioedema was reported in 6%-14% of patients. A large proportion of CSU pediatric patients (40%-60%) were treated with H1-antihistamines at approved dose and 16%-51% received H1-antihistamines at higher doses. Approximately 1/3 of pediatric CSU patients remained uncontrolled with H1-antihistamines at approved/higher doses. Other prescribed treatments were oral corticosteroids (10%-28%) and topical creams (15%-26%). CONCLUSIONS This study revealed a prevalence of CSU among pediatric population comparable to adults and also suggested an unmet need for approved treatments for inadequately controlled pediatric CSU patients. It is truly of concern that harmful (oral steroids) or insufficient (topical creams) treatments were frequently used despite better and guideline-recommended alternatives.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Karsten Weller
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | - Haijun Tian
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, NJ, USA
| | - Torsten Zuberbier
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marcus Maurer
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Altrichter S, Hawro T, Liedtke M, Holtappels G, Bachert C, Skov PS, Maurer M. In chronic spontaneous urticaria, IgE against staphylococcal enterotoxins is common and functional. Allergy 2018; 73:1497-1504. [PMID: 29315616 DOI: 10.1111/all.13381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a frequent disorder with recurrent itchy wheals and/or angioedema. Despite the known effectiveness of omalizumab therapy, the relevant IgE antigens are largely unknown. Recently, increased rates of elevated levels of IgE towards Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins (SEs) were described in CSU. AIM To assess the prevalence and functional relevance of IgE to SEs in CSU. METHOD We investigated serum levels of IgE against SEs in 49 CSU patients and in 15 CSU patients additional specific IgE to SE components and basophil histamine release (BHR). Sera of 15 healthy controls (HCs) served as control group. RESULTS Twenty-five (51%) of the CSU patients had detectable levels of SE-IgE as compared to 5 (33%) of HCs. Specific IgE to one of the SEs, Staphylococcus enterotoxin B (SEB), was present in 5 (33%) of 15 randomly selected CSU patients vs 3 (20%) of HC. Total IgE serum levels in CSU patients were significantly correlated with SE-IgE (r = .52, P < .001) and SEB-IgE (r = .54, P = .04) serum concentrations. Interestingly, SEB-IgE levels were strongly correlated with disease activity (UASday) in CSU patients (r = .657, P = .01). Furthermore, BHR in response to SEB was significantly higher in basophils loaded with the serum of CSU patients compared to HC (P < .05) and was clinically correlated with duration of disease (r > .51, P < .05). DISCUSSION IgE against SEs may contribute to the pathogenesis of CSU in a subpopulation of patients. Its role and relevance in the pathophysiology of CSU need to be further analysed.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Altrichter
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin; Berlin Germany
| | - T. Hawro
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin; Berlin Germany
| | - M. Liedtke
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin; Berlin Germany
| | - G. Holtappels
- Upper Airways Research Laboratory; Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology; Ghent University Hospital; Ghent Belgium
| | - C. Bachert
- Upper Airways Research Laboratory; Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology; Ghent University Hospital; Ghent Belgium
| | | | - M. Maurer
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin; Berlin Germany
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Vena GA, Maurer M, Cassano N, Zuberbier T. Alternative treatments for chronic spontaneous urticaria beyond the guideline algorithm. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol 2018; 17:278-285. [PMID: 28537934 DOI: 10.1097/aci.0000000000000372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The international EAACI/GALEN/EDF/WAO guideline suggests a stepwise approach for the therapeutic management of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), outlined in an algorithm. The aim of this article is to summarize and review the evidence available on alternative treatment options for CSU outside of this algorithm. RECENT FINDINGS Although CSU is a common disease, there are a limited number of high-quality studies, and only antihistamines and omalizumab are licensed for its treatment. Most studies regarding alternative therapies for CSU show methodological limitations and a high risk of bias. For many therapies, only case reports and uncontrolled studies exist. Recent publications on alternative treatments for chronic urticaria/CSU include reports on the use of adalimumab, rituximab, vitamin D, probiotics, histaglobulin, injection of autologous whole blood or serum, and phototherapy. SUMMARY Numerous treatments beyond the guideline algorithm have been evaluated in patients with refractory CSU. The global level of evidence to support their efficacy in CSU is low or very low. Further research is needed to assess the efficacy and safety of alternative therapies of CSU to manage adequately those patients who do not respond to the treatments included in the algorithm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gino A Vena
- aDermatology and Venereology Private Practice, Bari and Barletta, Italy bDepartment of Dermatology and Allergy, Allergie-Centrum-Charité, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Mediators of Inflammation and Angiogenesis in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: Are They Potential Biomarkers of the Disease? Mediators Inflamm 2017; 2017:4123694. [PMID: 29038618 PMCID: PMC5605794 DOI: 10.1155/2017/4123694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
In chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), different pathophysiological mechanisms, potentially responsible for the development of the disease, have been recently described. It is likely that the activation of skin mast cells with consequent release of histamine and other proinflammatory mediators is responsible for vasodilation in the lesional skin of CSU. However, the underlying causes of mast cell activation in the disease are largely unknown and remain to be identified. Thus, in this review, we discuss new insights in the pathogenesis of CSU, focusing on inflammation and angiogenesis. The understanding of these mechanisms will enable the identification of biomarkers useful for the diagnosis, follow-up, and management of CSU and will allow the development of novel, more specific, and patient-tailored therapies.
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