Autologous serum and plasma skin test to predict 2-year outcome in chronic spontaneous urticaria

Quality of life measurement in urticaria: Position statement of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Task Forces on Quality of Life and Patient-Oriented Outcomes and Urticaria and Angioedema

The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Task Forces on quality of life (QoL) and patient-oriented outcomes and on urticaria and angioedema recommendations for the assessment of Health-related (HR) QoL in all patients with urticaria in research and practice are as follows: to use the DLQI for adults and the CDLQI for children as dermatology-specific and the CU-Q2oL as a disease-specific HRQoL instruments in urticaria; to use generic instruments to provide comparison of data on urticaria with non-dermatologic diseases, or to compare with healthy volunteers or the general population; to select validated HRQoL instruments with appropriate age limits; to present exact numeric data for HRQoL results; correct title of any HRQoL instrument should be used, along with its correct abbreviation and the reference to its original publication, where possible. The EADV TFs discourage the use of non-validated HRQoL instruments and modified HRQoL instruments that have not undergone standard validation.

Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: How to Measure It and the Need to Define Treatment Success

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a complex skin disease characterized by the spontaneous appearance of wheals, angioedema, or both, for more than 6 weeks. Many patients experience a relapsing-remitting disease course for years. Owing to the unpredictability of wheal recurrence and the severity of pruritis, patients suffer considerable impairment in their quality of life. Physicians face multiple challenges, not least of which is a lack of clear guidance on what constitutes "treatment success". There is a lack of awareness of which measures should be used to best assess the various aspects of CSU, including disease activity, disease control, and quality of life-which themselves each comprise multiple components-and how to apply the results of each score to treatment decision-making. Although the overarching aim of treatment is for patients to be completely free of signs and symptoms of CSU, a more realistic definition of "treatment success" is needed to guide ongoing, long-term disease management for each individual patient. In this review, we consider what lessons can be learned from the current evidence base to provide further direction toward a universal definition of "treatment success".

Prospective analysis of clinical evolution in chronic urticaria: Persistence, remission, recurrence, and pruritus alone

Background

Population and study's methodology heterogenicity became clinical evolution of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) highly variable.

Objective

In a prospective cohort, we evaluated the different pathways of clinical evolution of CSU and identified possible risk factors.

Methods

A total of 685 CSU patients (>12 years) were prospectively followed over 5 years. Diagnosis and follow-up of urticaria were based on medical evaluation and photographic records. Remission was defined as at least 6 months without symptoms (hives, angioedema, or pruritus) and medication. The follow-up included at least 2 visits per year, with photographic registration and clinical evaluation. Predefined clinical and paraclinical variables were included in the regression analyses.

Results

We identified four clinical evolution pathways; The cumulative prevalence of remission at 5 years was 59.1%, recurrence was 17.1%, persistence was 11.6%, and chronic pruritus without hives or angioedema was 12.2%. The probability of persistence increased with hypothyroidism diagnosis (HR 0.425, 95% CI 0.290-0.621) and each point in the UAS7 (HR 0.931 95% CI 0.918-0.945).

Conclusion

Chronic urticaria has different evolutions. Disease activity and hypothyroidism predict persistence and remission. Recurrence and chronic pruritus phenotypes require further study to evaluate their causality and prognosis.

Clinical Remission of Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (CSU): A Targeted Literature Review

INTRODUCTION

Chronic spontaneous (previously known as idiopathic) urticaria (CSU) is a chronic skin disease with the potential for natural remission. The objectives of this targeted literature review were to identify evidence on the clinical course of CSU, including remission rates, and to estimate cumulative remission rates for different time points.

METHODS

Electronic databases (MEDLINE, MEDLINE-In Process, Embase, Web of Science, BIOSIS Previews and the Cochrane Library) and relevant conference proceedings were searched to identify studies involving patients with CSU aged ≥ 12 years that provide data on remission rates and disease duration. Observational studies with patient follow-ups of ≥ 1 year or review articles were included. Data extracted from five selected studies were used to run Kaplan-Meier (KM) analyses and best-fit distributions to calculate remission rates per 4-week period and weighted averages.

RESULTS

Ten publications were included in this review. The proportion of patients achieving remission within year 1 ranged from 21 to 47%, while reported remission rate estimates at year 5 were 34% and 45%. Based on calculated 4-weekly remission rates, cumulative remission estimates ranged from 9 to 38% at year 1, from 29 to 71% at year 5 and from 52 to 93% at year 20. Cumulative weighted average estimates for the proportion of patients remitting at years 1, 5 and 20 were 17%, 45% and 73%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Published evidence suggests that CSU is a self-limiting condition with variable disease severity and duration, apparently dependent on multiple factors. However, data sources differed in terms of definitions of disease severity and remission, as well as in conclusions on influencing factors. Further studies and uniform definitions are required.

Comparative analysis of clinical and laboratory parameters of autoimmune and idiopathic chronic urticaria patients

Background: According to the cause, chronic urticaria is most frequently divided into autoimmune and idiopathic urticaria. Aim of the paper was to determine the frequency of autoimmune urticaria using autologous serum skin testing and a comparative analysis of chronic idiopathic and chronic autoimmune urticaria by disease course, severity and most common comorbidities. Methods: Analysis covered 64 adult patients of both sexes with chronic urticaria, divided into two groups according to their positivity in autologous serum skin testing (group I with positive test and group II with negative test). General haematological and biochemical parameters, antithyroid antibodies, hepatitis serum markers, Helicobacter pylori and Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies were performed for patients in both groups. First group patients were treated by autologous blood therapy (autohaemotherapy). The analytical statistical tool SPSS (Statistical Product and Service Solutions) version 20 for descriptive statistics and statistical methods was used. The significance level used was p = 0.05. Results: The frequency of positive autologous serum test in total population of patients with chronic urticaria was 43.8 %. The average duration of urticaria was 20 months in both groups. Statistically significant difference was found in weekly scores between the studied groups (p = 0.032) in favour of chronic autoimmune urticaria with a positive autologous serum test. Subjects with chronic autoimmune urticaria had a significantly higher association with autoimmune thyroid diseases. Conclusions: Direct relation was established between the use of autologous blood therapy in patients with autoimmune chronic urticaria and improvement of the clinical picture.

The Relation of Autologous Serum Skin Test and Autologous Plasma Skin Test Result with Various Clinical and Laboratory Findings in Patients with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria

Background

Despite the autologous serum skin test (ASST) and autologous plasma skin test (APST) is widely used test accessing whether a patient with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) has autoreactivity or not, the clinician often encounter difficulty making correlation between the test result and clinical implications.

Objective

This study was aimed to find any clinical and laboratory findings related to the ASST and APST response. Agreement and correlation between the two tests was also analyzed.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted on 300 CSU patients who underwent ASST, APST. The subjects were divided into four groups according to the skin test result. Also, the degree of serum and plasma response was recorded.

Results

Both ASST and APST positive group had shorter duration of the disease, higher incidence of at least one episode of angioedema than negative group. There were no significant differences in the positivity for autoantibodies including antinuclear, ds-DNA, and thyroid-related between the two groups. The predicted positive rate of ASST and APST according to age showed bimodal peak and decreasing pattern according to disease duration. Predicted positivity of both tests declined with increase in total immunoglobuline E (IgE) level. In the correlation study, the two tests showed high correlation coefficients.

Conclusion

ASST and APST positivity may be related to disease duration and severity of CSU. The two tests showed a generally consistent result. Autoreactivity may be gradually lost as disease continues. We suggest the autoreactivity in CSU could arise independently from IgE mediated immune process.

Stress, pseudoallergens, autoimmunity, infection and inflammation in chronic spontaneous urticaria

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is often associated with organ specific autoimmunity but is rarely caused by food allergy. Colourings and preservatives in pre-packaged foods, so called pseudoallergens, have also been implicated. Factors that promote inflammation or reduce anti-inflammatory mechanisms may however, predispose susceptible individuals to CSU. Chronic underlying infection and mental and emotional stress can sometimes precede the onset of CSU and once established can exacerbate the symptoms. There is early evidence of dysbiosis within the gastrointestinal tract in people with CSU and reduced levels of vitamin D are also evident. The latter may be related to the importance of vitamin D3 in increasing T regulatory function which can control a tendency to autoimmunity. It is quite possible that a state of on-going chronic inflammation with reduced anti-oxidant mechanisms may underlie the not infrequent association between CSU and metabolic syndrome. Effective treatment of CSU should involve the use of anti-histamines, intermittent steroids and anti-IgE therapy. For recalcitrant disease immune modulatory therapy has a place. However, talking therapies that reduce stress and anxiety, vitamin D3 supplementation, correction of intestinal dysbiosis and treatment of any chronic infection should also be considered.

Association of positive and negative autologous serum skin test responses with clinical features of chronic spontaneous urticaria in Asian patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Previous studies on the correlation between positive autologous serum skin test (ASST) responses and the clinical features of patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) have provided conflicting results. To evaluate the significance of ASST responses in CSU, a variety of databases were searched from inception to March 2018 to identify relevant studies on CSU. Data were analyzed with use of the Cochrane Collaboration's Review Manager 5.2. Multiple relevant factors of CSU were evaluated by calculating the weighted mean difference, odds ratio and 95% confidence interval. The results indicated that CSU cases with positive ASST responses had higher urticaria activity scores and higher levels of total serum immunoglobulin E than CSU cases with negative responses in the ASST. In addition, a positive ASST response was more likely to be accompanied with the presence of thyroid autoantibodies and angioedema. An increased prevalence of CSU was identified in females, who were more likely to have a positive response in the ASST. It was also indicated that a greater incidence of positive ASST responses was present in CSU patients as compared with that in healthy controls. No statistically significant differences were obtained between positive and negative ASST responses with regard to age and duration of disease. Based on these results, it was concluded that the ASST provides an effective means of predicting urticaria activity and recurrence in CSU patients.

Cold Urticaria: Clinical Features and Natural Course in a Tropical Country

PURPOSE

To review the clinical features and natural courses of cold urticaria (ColdU) in a tropical country.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was performed of patients who visited Siriraj Urticaria Clinic, Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand, and were diagnosed with ColdU between 2007 and 2018. Data on provocation and threshold tests, clinical courses, and laboratory work-up were analyzed and compared with data reported by studies in temperate countries.

RESULTS

Of 1,063 chronic urticaria patients, 27 (2.5%) were diagnosed with ColdU, with a mean age of symptom onset of 34.8 years. Half of the patients had a history of atopy, and 1 (3.7%) had a history of anaphylaxis. All patients were positive to 1 of 3 provocation tests: an ice cube test; TempTest 4.0; or a tray filled with ice, salt and water. Thirteen patients underwent the ice cube test, and all had positive results. TempTest was performed on 15 patients, 8 of whom had positive results, with a mean critical temperature threshold (CTT) of 21.0°C. All of the 7 patients who had a negative TempTest result later produced positive results to the immersion of their hand and forearm in a tray filled with ice, salt, and water. All patients were treated with H₁-antihistamines, the vast majority (96.3%) being non-sedating H₁-antihistamines. Some (14.8%) needed to be administered oral corticosteroids, ciclosporin, or omalizumab. Six patients (22.2%) were in remission. A Kaplan-Meier survival curve demonstrated 5-year and 10-year remission rates of 13.8% and 42.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The rate of anaphylaxis in patients with ColdU in a tropical country was lower than those reported by other studies conducted intemperate climates. On the other hand, the number of female patients, mean age at symptom onset, atopy rate, rate of concomitant chronic spontaneous urticaria and mean CTT were higher.

Thyroid Autoimmunity and Autoimmunity in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria Linked to Disease Severity, Therapeutic Response, and Time to Remission in Patients with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria

Background

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is autoimmune in nature and associated with thyroid autoimmunity (TA), but evidence on autoimmunity in relation to CSU progression and prognosis is limited. We evaluated whether TA and autoimmunity in CSU are correlated with disease severity, therapeutic response, and time to remission and establish an association between CSU characteristics linked to thyroid autoantibody.

Methods

Medical records of patients diagnosed with urticaria attending outpatient dermatology clinic at a university-based hospital from 2013 to 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Data on the clinical characteristics, laboratory investigations particularly thyroid antibody titers, autologous serum skin test (ASST) and autologous plasma skin test (APST) results and their link to disease severity, treatments, and time to remission of CSU patients were analyzed.

Results

Of 1,096 patients with urticaria, 60.2% had CSU. Three-hundred patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria for CSU with complete thyroid antibody testing. Positive TA was significantly associated with female gender and age > 35 years (p = 0.008). Antithyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO)-positive patients suffered from CSU longer than 12 and 18 months compared to anti-TPO-negative patients (100.0% vs. 82.6%, p = 0.042, and 100.0% vs. 75.9% p = 0.020, respectively). The presence of urticarial attacks > 4 days/week was significantly seen in ASST and APST-positive patients compared to those without (84.6% vs. 61.3%, p = 0.011, and 85.3% vs. 61.8%, p = 0.006, respectively). Positive APST patients were more difficult to treat than those with negative results (61.2% vs. 37.8%, p = 0.017).

Conclusions

Antithyroid peroxidase is a predictor of time to remission, while autologous skin testing is linked to disease severity (ASST and APST) and therapeutic response (APST) in CSU patients.

Urticaria Diagnosis

Urticaria is a common skin condition that, though rarely fatal, can seriously impair a patient’s quality of life. Urticaria is caused by cutaneous mast cell activation and degranulation disease triggered by numerous stimuli. The condition is defined as chronic if it persists for >6 weeks. Self-remission is common in acute urticaria, but in chronic cases less than half of patients achieve remission within 1 year. Diagnosis is typically reached using the patient’s history along with a physical examination. Laboratory workup is based on clinical suspicion and is used to exclude underlying causes, although most cases constitute unknown or spontaneous causes. Extensive routine testing for an exogenous cause is not necessary and does not change the management. This review details the pathophysiology, aetiology, diagnosis, investigation, prognosis, differential diagnosis, and assessment of disease severity, highlighting the potential diagnosis of urticaria and enabling clinicians to make informed assessment decisions.