Diagnosis of urticaria

The Definition, Classification, and History of Urticaria

The term "urticaria" was first introduced by William Cullen in the eighteenth century. Urticaria is a common mast cell-mediated cutaneous disease presenting with pruritic wheals, angioedema, or both. It is classified as acute (≤6 weeks) or chronic (>6 weeks) and as spontaneous (no definite triggers) or inducible (definite and subtype-specific triggers). The international urticaria guideline on the definition, classification, diagnosis, and management of urticaria is revised every 4 years. The global network of Urticaria Centers of Reference and Excellence, the biggest and most active consortium of urticaria specialists, offers physicians and patients several research, educational, and digital care initiatives.

Impact of Water Exposure and Temperature Changes on Skin Barrier Function

The frequency of hand hygiene has increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but there is little evidence regarding the impact of water exposure and temperature on skin. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of water exposure and temperature on skin barrier function in healthy individuals. A prospective observational study was conducted. Temperature, pH, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), erythema and stratum corneum hydration (SCH) were measured objectively before and after hot- and cold-water exposure and TempTest® (Microcaya TempTest, Bilbao, Spain) contact. Fifty healthy volunteers were enrolled. Hot-water exposure increased TEWL (25.75 vs. 58.58 g·h^-1·m^-2), pH (6.33 vs. 6.65) and erythema (249.45 vs. 286.34 AU). Cold-water immersion increased TEWL (25.75 vs. 34.96 g·h^-1·m^-2) and pH (6.33 vs. 6.62). TEWL (7.99 vs. 9.98 g·h^-1·m^-2) and erythema (209.07 vs. 227.79 AU) increased after being in contact with the hot region (44 °C) of the TempTest. No significant differences were found after contact with the cold region (4 °C) of the TempTest. In conclusion, long and continuous water exposure damages skin barrier function, with hot water being even more harmful. It would be advisable to use cold or lukewarm water for handwashing and avoid hot water. Knowing the proper temperature for hand washing might be an important measure to prevent flares in patients with previous inflammatory skin diseases on their hands.

Isolated solar angioedema: A systematic review of the literature

Solar urticaria is a well-recognized photodermatosis, sometimes accompanied by angioedema. However, isolated solar angioedema (ISA) is a rare and unrecognized entity. The purpose of our work was to systematically review the available data on ISA. Therefore, a systematic review of studies evaluating ISA was performed. Additionally, a case of a 21-years-old patient from our photodermatosis service is presented. The search yielded 421 publications, with 3 eligible for review. Together with our case, 5 cases were included overall. All patients were female. Four out of 5 patients first experienced ISA at childhood or early adulthood (age range 6-22 years). UVA photoprovocation was positive in the 3 out of the 4 patients who were tested. Improvement was noted following NB-UVB hardening (2 out of 5 patients) or a short course of oral prednisone (3 out of 5 patients) combined with regular sunscreen application. To conclude, ISA is an extremely rare entity, although it may be underdiagnosed due to lack of awareness. The clinician must consider ISA in the differential diagnosis of angioedema since it can have a detrimental effect on quality of life. Besides sun avoidance, there is no consensus regarding treatment.

Natural History of Chronic Urticaria in Korea

Background

Data on the natural history and prognostic variables of chronic urticaria (CU) are rare and information about spontaneous remission of CU is limited.

Objective

This study evaluated the natural history of CU and identified predictors for remission.

Methods

Total 329 Korean patients with CU, who had follow-ups more than 6 months after diagnosis during a 7-year period in the department of dermatology in three university hospitals were enrolled. Clinical data and laboratory findings obtained by medical records and telephone interviews were analyzed, retrospectively.

Results

The proportion recovered in 1, 3, and 5 years after the onset of CU was 10.8%, 18.8%, and 32.9%, respectively. The mean duration of CU was 6.3 years. There were no significant differences in median recovery time depending on sex, age group, severity of CU, and type of CU. The presence of angioedema was significantly related to CU severity. There were no differences in prognosis with respect to the presence of dermographism or angioedema. Patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) had a significantly worse prognosis than patients without a history of AD; but not in patients with the history of allergic rhinitis or asthma. Patients with abnormal laboratory findings did not differ significantly in prognosis.

Conclusion

CU remission rate significantly differ according to the presence of AD. This study provides information about the natural course of CU of Korean patients.

Eczema and Urticaria in the Adult Population in Portugal: A Prevalence Study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Eczema and urticaria are both inflammatory skin diseases. The prevalence of both diseases varies worldwide and the reasons are unknown. We aimed to investigate the eczema and urticaria prevalence in the Portuguese adult (≥16 years-old) population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A telephone interview survey was performed in the last quarter of 2017. To calculate the prevalences, subjects should have been previously diagnosed with eczema/urticaria by a health professional, be aged ≥16 years-old, and reside in Portugal. The sample had a proportion that was approximately representative by population, region, gender, and age group. Odds ratios were performed to measure associations with prevalences. SPSS statistics and values of p<0.05 with 95% confidence intervals were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

5,000 phone calls were analysed. The prevalence of eczema and urticaria in Portugal is 4.4% and 3.4%, respectively. Algarve is the region with the highest prevalence for both diseases. Being a female is the factor that most influenced these diseases with an OR=1.99 (p<0.001; CI 1.49-2.66) for eczema and 1.73 (p=0.001; CI 1.25 - 2.40) for urticaria, with also higher prevalences (5.7% and 4.2%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalences found are higher than in previous studies in Portugal and comparable to results from other countries. Comparisons among prevalence of eczema are affected by several obstacles. Regarding urticaria, our results seem to be in the same line as others. Being female with eczema and urticaria is more common and represents a higher risk factor than male subjects. According to Harrop et al., 2007, in Europe, atopic eczema is 0.14-0.60% of general eczema. In this way, we can estimate that prevalence of atopic eczema in Portugal is around 0.61-2.64%.

Checklist for a complete chronic urticaria medical history: an easy tool

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.

RESULTS

We identified82 articles from which we drew a collection of items to inform development of an easy-to-use checklist and collection of items that should be included in a correct medical history. The final version of the checklist included42 items across two areas: essential clues for anamnesis and diagnosis of CU; and typical symptoms/parameters or characteristics according to subtype, etiology, and laboratory findings. Items included time of disease onset; duration, shape, size, color, and distribution of wheals; associated angioedema; atopy; and triggering factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Our guide provides an easy-to-use tool to support clinicians to focus, orient themselves, and save time in medical consultations for CU, allowing better diagnosis and management of this disease.

Unmet medical needs for chronic spontaneous urticaria patients: highlighting the real-life clinical practice in Taiwan

BACKGROUND

Treatment guidelines for chronic spontaneous/idiopathic urticaria (CSU) are available; however, only 50% of patients are well controlled with approved doses of H1-antihistamines, and certain patients remain symptomatic despite receiving up to 4× the approved dose of H1-antihistamines plus H2 antihistamines and/or leucotriene-receptor antagonists.

OBJECTIVES

To highlight real-life clinical practice in Taiwan and to understand the unmet medical needs of CSU patients.

METHODS

A nationwide cross-sectional, observational survey of 50 dermatologists and 200 CSU patients was conducted between June 2013 and November 2013. Face-to-face interviews of dermatologists and online interviews of CSU patients were conducted independently.

RESULTS

Dermatologists reported that dermographism and blood tests were the most commonly used diagnostic methods to confirm the diagnosis. The key driving factor for most clinic-based dermatologists (70%) in choosing a treatment was 'response to my medicines', and most preferred H1-antihistamines and steroids for treating CSU patients, whereas most hospital-based dermatologists (85%) gave higher priority to 'severity and impact of the conditions'. Patients were reported to have high psychological pressures and significant impact of CSU on their daily activity. In addition, CSU patients were not satisfied with their current treatment and 69% of patients switched their first-consulted physician. Furthermore, lack of information and concerns about side-effects were major factors which held back patients from seeking Western treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

There is an unmet medical need of CSU patients in Taiwan highlighting gaps among guidelines, real-life clinical practice, patients' perceptions and patients' knowledge of their disease.