H1-antihistamine-refractory chronic spontaneous urticaria: it's worse than we thought - first results of the multicenter real-life AWARE study

Real-world outcomes in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria receiving omalizumab: insights from a clinical practice survey

Objective: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a debilitating inflammatory skin condition, often impacting quality of life. International guidelines recommend omalizumab, an anti-immunoglobulin E antibody, for second-line treatment. Our objective was to understand patient characteristics associated with prescription of omalizumab, and assess real-world outcomes in patients with CSU treated with omalizumab.Methods: We analyzed data from the Adelphi Real World CSU Disease Specific Programme™, a cross-sectional survey with retrospective data collection (December 2020-October 2021) from physicians and patients with CSU in the United States.Results: Data from allergists (n = 45), dermatologists (n = 51), and primary care physicians (PCPs; n = 20) were included. At the time of data collection, one-third of patients were receiving omalizumab (n = 220) and 67% were eligible for but not receiving omalizumab (n = 455). Using logistic regression, the odds of receiving omalizumab were higher in patients whose entire bodies were affected by hives [OR = 2.551; 95% CI 1.502-4.333; p < 0.001] or with deteriorating/unstable prognoses at treatment initiation [OR = 2.219; 95% CI 1.031-4.777; p = 0.042], and lower in patients managed by PCPs [OR = 0.276; 95% CI 0.130-0.584; p < 0.001]. Estimates from an inverse probability weighted regression adjustment model indicated that patients receiving omalizumab had higher treatment satisfaction, improvements in itching, hives, angioedema, insomnia, and anxiety, and lower impact on work productivity, compared with patients not receiving omalizumab.Conclusion: Around two-thirds of patients with CSU considered eligible for omalizumab were not receiving the guideline-recommended therapy. Patients receiving omalizumab had better real-world outcomes compared with patients not receiving omalizumab. Ensuring patients receive the most appropriate treatment could benefit patients with CSU.

The socio-economic burden of H1-antihistamine-refractory chronic spontaneous urticaria in Germany

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM

Data from the AWARE study (A Worldwide Antihistamine-Refractory chronic urticaria patient Evaluation) illustrate a substantial disease burden in German patients with H1-antihistamine (-H1-AH)-refractory chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). Detrimental effects on patients' quality of life, poor disease control and impairment in the ability to work and perform other daily activities are reported. Based on these findings, this study aims to quantify the epidemiological and socio-economic burden of H1-AH-refractory CSU in Germany.

METHODS

To determine the epidemiological burden of H1-AH-refractory CSU, the age- and gender-specific prevalence of CSU and the proportion of H1-AH-refractory patients in Germany anonymized data from the InGef research database have been used. In a second step, the socio-economic burden in terms of lost numbers of hours in paid and unpaid work was calculated by extrapolating the age- and gender-specific work productivity and activity impairment (WPAI) observed in AWARE to the H1-AH-refractory CSU population in Germany. Finally, productivity losses in paid and unpaid work were monetized using the human capital and the friction cost approach respectively. Moreover, socio-economic burden was calculated depending on symptom control of the patients (measured by urticaria control test [UCT]).

RESULTS

In Germany, over 203,000 patients (20 years or older) had H1-AH-refractory CSU in 2018. The avoided lost paid and unpaid work hours attributable to H1-AH-refractory CSU summed up to over 100 million. Overall, the socio-economic burden of H1-AH-refractory CSU in monetary terms was evaluated at € 2.2 billion and the majority of this was due to unpaid work loss. Patients with poor disease control, as indicated by UCT score < 12, were more likely to suffer from high impairment than patients with controlled disease, resulting in a higher socio-economic burden.

CONCLUSION

The results of our analyses picture the substantial socio-economic burden of H1-AH-refractory CSU and therefore the tremendous impact it has on daily lives of individuals and society overall.

An update on the use of antihistamines in managing chronic urticaria

INTRODUCTION

Urticaria, a mast cell-mediated skin disease, manifests as acute or chronic, with the latter divided into spontaneous and inducible types and requires individualized management, including identifying triggers and comorbidities. Antihistamines, particularly the second generation group, form the mainstay of primary treatment plans consisting of dosage adjustments and/or in combination with other treatment modalities depending on underlying disease control.

AREAS COVERED

A literature search was conducted using 'antihistamines,' 'urticaria,' 'pharmacogenomics,' 'genomics,' 'biomarkers' and 'treatment response' as key words. In this review, we focus on the comprehensive understanding and application of antihistamines in managing adult and adolescent patients with chronic urticaria.

EXPERT OPINION

Using antihistamines to treat urticaria is set to change significantly, focusing more on personalized medicine and identifying key biomarkers to enhance treatment response prediction. These changes aim to make treatments more specific and cost-effective by avoiding unnecessary tests. Applying new approaches in everyday clinical care faces challenges like proving the biomarkers' reliability, updating current guidelines, and incorporating individualized treatments into standard procedures. Efforts should now concentrate on finding easy-to-use biomarkers, improving access to pharmacogenomics, understanding why some patients are resistant to treatment, and creating more specific treatment options based on patient needs.

Non-Skin Related Symptoms Are Common in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria and Linked to Active and Uncontrolled Disease: Results From the Chronic Urticaria Registry

BACKGROUND

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) can present with non-skin related symptoms (NSRS), including recurrent unexplained fever, joint, bone, or muscle pain (JBMP), and malaise, which also occur in other conditions that manifest with wheals (eg, urticarial vasculitis or autoinflammatory disorders) or without wheals (eg, infection).

OBJECTIVE

We sought to determine the rate of patients with CSU affected by fever, JBMP, and malaise, their trigger factors, links with clinical and laboratory characteristics, and their impact on everyday life and treatment responses.

METHODS

We analyzed baseline data from the Chronic Urticaria Registry of 2,521 patients with CSU who were aged 16 years or older.

RESULTS

One third of CSU patients (31.2%; 786 of 2,521) had one or more NSRS, including recurrent fever (5.3%), JBMP (19.1%), and/or malaise (18.6%). In a multivariable analysis, having one or more of these NSRS correlated with food and infection as trigger factors of urticaria (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.7 and 1.5), wheals of 24 hours or greater duration (aOR = 2.5), sleep disturbance (aOR = 2.4), anxiety (aOR = 2.8), comorbid atopic dermatitis (aOR = 2.1), gastrointestinal disease (aOR = 1.8), elevated leukocytes (aOR = 1.7) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (aOR = 1.5). In a bivariate analysis, these NSRS were additionally associated with higher disease activity (weekly Urticaria Activity Score, median: 21 vs 14; P = .009), longer disease duration (years, median: 2 vs 1; P = .001), the presence of angioedema (74.6% vs 58.7%; P < .001), worse quality of life (Chronic Urticaria Quality of Life Questionnaire, median: 42 vs 29; P < .001) and more frequent poor control of CSU (78% vs 69%; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of NSRS in a subpopulation of patients with CSU points to the need for better control of the disease, exclusion of comorbid conditions, and/or exclusion of urticarial vasculitis and urticarial autoinflammatory diseases.

[Recognition and management of relevant comorbidities in chronic spontaneous urticaria]

Various mechanisms contributing to the activity of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CU) have been postulated. Associated comorbidities are increasingly leading to the discovery of further signaling pathways which may support the activity of chronic urticaria or contribute to low-grade systemic inflammation. Moreover psychoimmunological factors may also be involved. The aim of this work is to improve the clinical care of patients with CU by increasing knowledge regarding optional influencing factors due to comorbidities and to possibly influence disease activity. Chronic urticaria due to autoimmune mechanisms may dispose to other autoimmune diseases, especially autoimmune thyroiditis, which can trigger chronic disease. Association of CU with metabolic syndrome has received little attention to date. Obesity may contribute to low-grade systemic inflammation by cytokine-secreting adipose tissue and hence to mediator-release of mast cells. Furthermore, neuroimmunological pathways, especially increased release of substance P, an activating ligand of Mas-related G protein-coupled receptor X2 (MRGPX2) on mast cells, should be addressed when optimizing therapy.

Comorbid Inducible Urticaria Is Linked to Non-Autoimmune Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: CURE Insights

BACKGROUND

Patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) can have comorbid inducible urticaria (CIndU). How comorbid CIndU affects patients and their CSU is largely unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To compare patients with CSU with and without comorbid CIndUs for differences in demographic features, clinical characteristics, and laboratory markers.

METHODS

We analyzed 708 patients with CSU of our Urticaria Center of Reference and Excellence enrolled in CURE, the chronic urticaria registry. CURE data collected until October 2022 were used to compare patients with and without comorbid CIndU for their demographic characteristics, disease onset, activity, impact, and control, as well as concomitant allergic and autoimmune diseases and laboratory parameters associated with autoimmune CSU.

RESULTS

Of 708 patients with CSU, 247 (35%) had comorbid CIndU. Compared with patients with standalone CSU, patients with CSU with comorbid CIndU were significantly younger, had earlier disease onset, longer disease duration, higher impact on quality of life, and a higher rate of concomitant allergic diseases. Moreover, patients with CSU with comorbid CIndU less often had features linked to autoimmune CSU such as angioedema, concomitant autoimmune diseases, eosinopenia, low levels of total IgE, and low total IgE combined with elevated anti-thyroid peroxidase IgG.

CONCLUSIONS

Autoimmune CSU may be less common in patients with comorbid CIndU than without, and comorbid CIndU may point to autoallergic CSU.

CRUSE® -An innovative mobile application for patient monitoring and management in chronic spontaneous urticaria

BACKGROUND

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is unpredictable and can severely impair patients' quality of life. Patients with CSU need a convenient, user-friendly platform to complete patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) on their mobile devices. CRUSE® , the Chronic Urticaria Self Evaluation app, aims to address this unmet need.

METHODS

CRUSE® was developed by an international steering committee of urticaria specialists. Priorities for the app based on recent findings in CSU were defined to allow patients to track and record their symptoms and medication use over time and send photographs. The CRUSE® app collects patient data such as age, sex, disease onset, triggers, medication, and CSU characteristics that can be sent securely to physicians, providing real-time insights. Additionally, CRUSE® contains PROMs to assess disease activity and control, which are individualised to patient profiles and clinical manifestations.

RESULTS

CRUSE® was launched in Germany in March 2022 and is now available for free in 17 countries. It is adapted to the local language and displays a country-specific list of available urticaria medications. English and Ukrainian versions are available worldwide. From July 2022 to June 2023, 25,710 observations were documented by 2540 users; 72.7% were females, with a mean age of 39.6 years. At baseline, 93.7% and 51.3% of users had wheals and angioedema, respectively. Second-generation antihistamines were used in 74.0% of days.

CONCLUSIONS

The initial data from CRUSE® show the wide use and utility of effectively tracking patients' disease activity and control, paving the way for personalised CSU management.

Omalizumab Drug Survival in Chronic Urticaria: A Retrospective Multicentric French Study

BACKGROUND

Omalizumab (OMA) dramatically improves disease control and quality of life in patients with chronic urticaria (CU).

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to evaluate the discontinuation patterns of OMA and their determinants in a cohort of French patients with CU.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective multicenter study in 9 French tertiary referral hospitals. All patients diagnosed with either spontaneous (CSU) and/or inducible (CIndU) CU who received at least 1 injection of OMA between 2009 and 2021 were included. We analyzed OMA drug survival and investigated possible determinants using Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests.

RESULTS

A total of 878 patients were included in this study; 48.8% had CSU, 10.1% CIndU, and 41.1% a combination of both. OMA was discontinued in 408 patients, but the drug was later reintroduced in 50% of them. The main reason for discontinuing treatment was the achievement of a well-controlled disease in 50% of patients. Half of the patients were still being treated with OMA 2.4 years after the initiation of treatment. Drug survival was shorter in patients with CIndU and in those with an autoimmune background. In atopic patients, OMA was discontinued earlier in patients achieving a well-controlled disease. A longer OMA drug survival was observed in patients with a longer disease duration at initiation.

CONCLUSION

In French patients with CU, the drug survival of OMA appears to be longer than that observed in previous studies conducted elsewhere, highlighting discrepancies in prescription and reimbursement possibilities. Further studies are warranted to develop customized OMA treatment schemes based on individual patterns.

The Added-on of Ziziphus jujube Syrup in the Treatment of Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria Resistant to Standard-Dose of Secondary-generation H1 Antihistamine: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial

Background

Although antihistamines are the first-line treatment for chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), 50% of patients don't respond to standard doses. In this study, the effectiveness of Ziziphus jujube fruit syrup in combination with antihistamines was assessed in patients with CSU.

Methods

This double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted in Shiraz between December 2019 and December 2020. 64 patients with CSU who had experienced hives for at least six weeks and did not respond to the usual treatments were enrolled in the study. They were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups using permuted block random allocation. For four weeks, the intervention group received 7.5 mL Ziziphus jujube syrup twice a day, while the control group received 7.5 mL simple jujube syrup twice a day. Both groups received cetirizine 10 mg every night. Urticaria activity score (UAS) and CU-Q2oL questionnaires were used to assess urticaria state and sleep quality before and after each week for four consecutive weeks. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 18, and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Before the intervention, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups' mean of UAS (P=0.490) and sleep quality (P=0.423). During the follow-up, UAS in the intervention group was significantly lower (P=0.001). Moreover, this difference was significant on the day 28 (P=0.046). During the follow-up, the quality of sleep in both groups improved significantly, and this improvement was more significant in the intervention group.

Conclusion

Ziziphus jujube syrup could be an effective adjuvant treatment for CSU.Trial Registration Number: IRCT20190304042916N1.

Omalizumab for Patients with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: A Narrative Review of Current Status

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a debilitating inflammatory disorder of the skin, characterized by a fluctuating natural history, a complex mechanism of action, and a significant burden on patients, including effect on quality of life, development of psychosocial disorders, and a range of comorbidities. Recent international guidelines recommend a therapeutic approach of first-line treatment with second generation H1-antihistamines and second-line treatment with the biologic omalizumab. Here, the salient aspects of CSU and current status of data for omalizumab for patients with CSU are reviewed, with a focus on mechanism of action, efficacy and real-world effectiveness (including patient outcomes, response, relapse, and remission), and safety (including consideration of the risk of anaphylaxis). The review also considers recent data on COVID-19, CSU, and omalizumab and presents our perspective on future needs. Overall, the data suggest that omalizumab is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for patients with CSU that provides benefits for a wide range of patients.

Bacterial DNA promoting inflammation via the Sgk1/Nedd4L/Syk pathway in mast cells contributes to antihistamine-nonresponsive CSU

Inflammation centered on non-IgE-mediated mast cell activation characterizes chronic spontaneous urticaria resistant to nonsedating H1-antihistamines. We recently uncovered a strong positive association between inflammation and the fecal Escherichia. To further explore the actions of bacterial DNA derived from Escherichia on mast cells, intestinal permeability of patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria with or without nonsedating H1-antihistamine resistance and healthy controls were determined, and LAD2 cells with knockdown of Syk, Nedd4L, or Sgk1 or with incubation of inhibitors GS9973, GSK650394, and MG132 were posttreated with btDNA. We found that (i) serum intestinal permeability indices and bacterial DNA markedly increased in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria with nonsedating H1-antihistamine resistance compared with those without (all P < 0.001), and bacterial DNA positively correlated with the degree of inflammation; (ii) IL-6 and TNF-α levels were time- and dose-dependently upregulated in bacterial DNA-stimulated LAD2 cells, which relied on unmethylated CpG in bacterial DNA and Toll-like receptor 9 protein in cells; (iii) Syk knockdown or inhibition of Syk Tyr525/526 phosphorylation blocked bacterial DNA-initiated cytokine production; (iv) Nedd4L interacted with Tyr525/526-phosphorylated Syk, and inhibition of Nedd4L Ser448 phosphorylation induced by bacterial DNA-activated Sgk1 was mandatory for bacterial DNA's proinflammatory property; and (v) Sgk1 suppression showed an inhibitory effect on bacterial DNA-induced inflammation by ensuring Nedd4L-mediated ubiquitination of Tyr525/526-phosphorylated Syk. Collectively, we identified previously unknown contributory roles of bacterial translocation and serum bacterial DNA on the inflammation phenotype in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria with nonsedating H1-antihistamine resistance and further uncovered a vital negative regulatory role for the Sgk1/Nedd4L/Syk pathway in bacterial DNA-induced inflammation in LAD2 cells.

Differences between adult and pediatric chronic spontaneous urticaria from a cohort of 751 patients: Clinical features, associated conditions and indicators of treatment response

BACKGROUND

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a common disease both in the pediatric and in the adult population. However, there are differences between the two patient populations with respect to etiological factors, comorbidities, and treatment responses. Our aim was to determine differences between pediatric and adult CSU in terms of clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters, comorbidities, response to treatment, and indicators of response.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of CSU patients was performed. Data regarding differences between pediatric and adult CSU patients were analyzed. Indicators of treatment response were determined separately in both pediatric and adult patients.

RESULTS

Of 751 CSU patients (162 pediatrics and 589 adults), female dominancy (48.8% vs. 69.6%) and rate of angioedema (19.1% vs. 59.8%) were lower, and disease duration (5 months vs. 12 months) was shorter in pediatric patients. Anti-TPO positivity (24.7% vs. 9%), elevated CRP (46.5% vs. 11.1%), eosinopenia (38.5% vs. 18.1%), and skin prick test positivity (39.3% vs. 28.8%) were significantly more frequent in adult patients. Response to antihistamines was higher in the pediatric group, and only 7% used omalizumab versus 20.8% in the adults. The comparisons were also performed between <12-year and ≥12-year patients and yielded similar results.

CONCLUSION

Pediatric CSU shows distinct characteristics such as lower incidence of angioedema and antithyroid antibodies, and it responds better to antihistamines. These suggest that CSU becomes more severe and refractory in adolescents and adults. Adolescent CSU shows features similar to adult CSU rather than pediatric CSU.

Gut Microbiome Composition in Patients with Chronic Urticaria: A Review of Current Evidence and Data

Recent studies have linked gut microorganism composition and chronic urticaria (CU); however, the underlying mechanisms responsible for this connection are unknown. Since the human immune system is in homeostasis with microbiota, and the composition of the microbiome regulates the development and function of the immune system, it is likely that an alteration of microbiota components (a dysbiosis) could influence the course of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), including disease severity, patient quality of life and treatment outcome. To date, several studies have identified changes in the gut microbiota composition of patients with CSU, though only a few have exhibited metabolic abnormalities associated with gut dysbiosis. The studies on CSU patients predominantly showed that the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria was decreased (Firmicutes and Bacteroides), while that of opportunistic bacteria was increased (Enterobacteria and Proteobacteria). In addition, serum metabolome analysis revealed that gut microbiota-associated alterations in unsaturated fatty acids and the butanoate metabolism pathway may play a role in CSU. These findings are potentially associated with inflammation mediated by the imbalance of Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokines, which might contribute to CSU pathogenesis. Further research in this field could improve clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic approaches to patients with CSU. By applying new knowledge on gut microbial communities and metabolomics, future CSU therapies could modify the microbiota composition using agents such as probiotics or other similar agents, which, in combination with current standard therapies, could hopefully lead to a reduction in symptoms and an improved quality of life for CSU patients.

S3 Guideline Urticaria. Part 1: Classification and diagnosis of urticaria - German-language adaptation of the international S3 Guideline

The lifetime prevalence of urticaria, a severe allergic disease, is almost 20%. It not only limits the quality of life of those affected, but also their general performance at work and in their daily activities. This publication is the first section of the Urticaria Guideline. It covers the classification and diagnosis of urticaria, taking into account the major advances in research into its causes, triggering factors and pathomechanisms. It also addresses strategies for the efficient diagnosis of the different subtypes of urticaria. This is crucial for individual, patient-oriented treatment, which is covered in the second part of the guideline, published separately. This German-language guideline was developed according to the criteria of the AWMF on the basis of the international English-language S3 guideline with special consideration of health system characteristics in the German-speaking countries. This first part of the guideline describes the classification of urticaria, distinguishing spontaneously occurring wheals (hives) and angioedema from forms of urticaria with inducible symptoms. Urticaria is defined as sudden onset of wheals, angioedema, or both, but is to be distinguished from conditions in which wheals occur as a short-term symptom, such as anaphylaxis. The diagnosis is based on (a limited number of) laboratory tests, but especially on medical history. In addition, validated instruments are available to measure the severity, activity and course of the disease.

An evaluation of remission rates with first and second line treatments and indicators of antihistamine refractoriness in chronic urticaria

BACKGROUND

Guidelines recommend standard doses of antihistamines as first-line, and updosing of antihistamines as second-line treatment for the management of chronic urticaria (CU). However, remission rates with different types of first- and second-line treatments and indicators of antihistamine response are largely lacking in the literature.

OBJECTIVES

To examine response rates to first- and second-line treatments in CU, and to identify patient characteristics that can predict antihistamine treatment outcomes.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed treatment outcomes of 657 CU (556 chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), 101 chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU)) patients who had at least 3-months of follow-up data.

RESULTS

A standard dose of second generation antihistamines (sgAH) was effective in 43.1 % of the patients. An additional 28.8 % of patients were in remission with second-line treatments. Among patients whose disease was in remission with a standard dose of sgAHs, 14.8 % benefited from switching from their current sgAH to another sgAH. Updosing sgAHs, combination of two different sgAHs, sgAH and first generation H1-antihistamine combination, and sgAH and leukotriene receptor antagonist combination provided remission in 38.3 %, 35.8 %, 37.5 % and 25 % of patients who were given these treatments, respectively. Baseline UCT score ≤ 4, emergency referral and family history of CSU were found to be risk factors for antihistamine refractoriness in patients with CSU.

CONCLUSIONS

A step-wise approach to the management of CU is practical as more patients respond to treatment at each step. The presence of baseline UCT score ≤ 4, emergency referral and family history of CSU might be helpful to determine patients who require third-line treatments in advance.

Clinical review: The suggested management pathway for urticaria in primary care

Background

Urticaria is a common condition presenting both as acute and chronic disease within primary care. To those without specialist training it is poorly understood from the points of view of diagnosis and management. It causes a considerable disease burden to sufferers with marked impact on quality of life.

Purpose of this review

The recent publication of the EAACI/GA²LEN/EuroGuiDerm/APAAACI Guideline for the Definition, Classification, Diagnosis and Management of Urticaria guideline prompted us to take this excellent resource and re‐configure its findings and recommendations to a non‐specialist audience with particular reference to the needs of the primary care team.

The burden of symptomatic patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria: a real-world study in Korea

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) poses a considerable burden both on the quality of life (QoL) of individual patients and on healthcare systems. Real‑world data evaluating the disease burden of CSU are limited in this country. This study evaluated the disease burden and healthcare resource utilization (HRU) among symptomatic CSU patients.

METHODS

This multicenter, noninterventional, retrospective, and cross-sectional study assessed CSU patients symptomatic for more than 6 months despite step-wise H1-antihistamine medications. Primary outcomes included Urticaria Activity Score over 7 days (UAS7) and Chronic Urticaria QoL scale (CU-QoL). Secondary outcomes included EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), association of disease activity with QoL, medications used for the past 6 months, and HRU.

RESULTS

Five hundred patients with CSU were enrolled. Mean disease duration was 3.7 years. Based on UAS7, 22.2% of patients were in well-controlled status and 31.2%, 28.4%, and 18.2% of them had mild, moderate, and severe disease, respectively. Mean CU-QoL and DLQI scores were 57.5 ± 29.7 and 10.2 ± 7.6, respectively, while the EQ-5D-5L utility score was 0.8 ± 0.2. H1-antihistamines were prescribed to 95% of patients, while omalizumab was prescribed to 33% of patients. Most patients (98%) had outpatient visits in the past 6 months. Negative correlations were noted between UAS7 and CU-QoL, EQ-5D-5L, EQ-5D-5L visual analog scale scores, but a positive correlation was noted with DLQI score (p < 0.001 for all). The number of outpatient department visits increased with disease activity (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

CSU affects QoL, leading to increased HRU, particularly in patients with severe disease.

Multicentric and Observational Study of Omalizumab for Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria in Real-Life in Colombia

Background

Although chronic urticaria (CU) is a common, cause of medical consulting both in general practitioners and allergist specialists worldwide, there is little information about its behavior and management in Latin America. Currently, national and international guidelines recommend using Omalizumab for cases refractory to management with antihistamines. Despite advances in the knowledge of Omalizumab for the management of CU, although there are few studies in underdeveloped countries, there are many studies evaluating the impact of Omalizumab treatment. There is not clinical information related with CSU-Omalizumab in patient settled in the Caribbean area. This research aims to evaluate the management of CU with Omalizumab in a real-life scenario in Colombia.

Methodology

We conducted an observational, descriptive, and retrospective study with patient recruitment between 2014 and 2017 of individuals diagnosed with Chronic Urticaria (CU) treating allergology specialists in five Colombian cities. We included patients with CU who failed to achieve disease control after treatment for 4 weeks with fourfold doses of second-generation H1-antihistamines, as recommended by the EAACI/GA²LEN/EDF/WAO guidelines and who received treatment with Omalizumab.

Results

We included 123 patients, 73.1% (n = 90) were women. The mean age was 47.1 years (Standard Deviation, SD: 16.2). The median of the total months of disease evolution was 30 (IQR = 13–58). 81.3 % (n = 100) of patients were diagnosed with chronic spontaneous urticarial (CSU). 4.8% (n = 6) had inducible CU (CIndU), and 13.8% (n = 17) reported mixed urticaria (spontaneous CU with at least one inducible component). Regarding emotional factors, 34.9% (n = 43) of subjects indicated anxiety symptoms, 34.1% (n = 42) had exacerbations associated with stress, and 14.6% (n = 18) manifested episodes of sadness. The percentage of patients with CSU controlled according to medical criteria at 3 months with Omalizumab were 80% (n = 80/100) and at 6 months 87% (n = 87/100). The frequency of adverse events was 29.2% (n = 36), with headache being the most frequent adverse event.

Conclusions

This real-life study with Omalizumab at CU describes percentages of effectiveness and safety similar to those observed in pivotal and real-life studies conducted in other regions around the world.

Immunological signature of chronic spontaneous urticaria (Review)

Chronic urticaria (CU) is a condition characterized by intensely pruritic, edematous, erythematous papules lasting for more than 6 weeks. Over half of the cases have concomitant swelling of deeper tissues, known as angioedema. The socio-economic burden of the disease is significant. Unfortunately, patients with severe CU, refractory to conventional treatment, have limited and expensive therapeutic options. The pathogenesis of CU is not yet completely understood. Therefore, elucidating the pathophysiological mechanisms involved would potentially identify new therapeutic targets. It has been accepted in recent years that mast cells and their activation, followed by excessive degranulation represent the key pathophysiological events in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). The triggering events and the complexity of the effector mechanisms, however, remain intensely debated topics with conflicting studies. One pathogenetic mechanism incriminated in chronic spontaneous urticaria is the response mediated by the high-affinity receptor for IgE (FcεRI) expressed on mast cells. Increasing recognition of chronic spontaneous urticaria as an autoimmune disease linked to the cytokine-chemokine network imbalance resulting from alteration of innate immune response is another pathogenetic explanation. It is likely that these different pathological mechanisms are more interconnected, both acting synergistically, rather than separately, to produce the clinical expression of CU. The discovery and understanding of pathogenic mechanisms represent the premise for the development of safe and effective immunomodulators and targeted biological treatment for severe, refractory CU.

Altered Gut Microbiota in H1-Antihistamine-Resistant Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria Associates With Systemic Inflammation

Background and Objective

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a histamine-mediated inflammatory skin disease, and second-generation non-sedating H1-antihistamines (nsAH) at licensed doses have long been the first-line therapy in CSU. However, about 50% of patients are resistant to nsAH, and the precise pathogenesis remains largely unknown but seems to be associated with low-level systemic or intestinal inflammation. We aim to determine the fecal microbial composition and clarify its correlation with the clinical profiles og CSU with nsAH resistance.

Methods

A total of 25 CSU patients with or 19 CSU patients without nsAH resistance and 19 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled in this study. The intestinal microbiome was detected by 16S rRNA sequencing. The data were analyzed using R language software.

Results

Significantly higher urticarial activity score for 7 days, stool calprotectin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum C-reactive protein, and interleukin-6, but much lower alpha-diversity and evenness of fecal bacterial community were observed in CSU patients with nsAH resistance than in those without (P <0.05 for all variables). Compared to patients with nsAH-responsiveness, the abundance of fecal genera Prevotella, Megamonas, and Escherichia were significantly increased, while that of Blautia, Alistipes, Anaerostipes, and Lachnospira were remarkably reduced in nsAH-resistant patients (uncorrected P <0.05 for all variables). Finally, systemic not intestinal inflammation degree was positively correlated with genera Escherichia, while negatively with genera Blautia, Dorea, Lactobacillus, Eubacterium_hallii_group, and Roseburia. CSU without nsAH resistance and HC individuals showed almost unchanged genera bacterium.

Conclusions

Among CSU patients, pro-inflammation phenotype relating to enteric dysbacteriosis features nsAH resistance in CSU patients. The results provide clues for future microbial-based or anti-inflammatory therapies on nsAH resistant CSU.

Identification of novel biomarkers to distinguish bradykinin-mediated angioedema from mast cell-/histamine-mediated angioedema

BACKGROUND

The pathophysiology of the underlying paroxysmal permeability disturbances in angioedema (AE) is not well understood.

METHODS

To identify clinical and laboratory parameters specific for a certain AE subtype, 40 AE patients were prospectively enrolled: 15 hereditary (HAE), 13 ACE-inhibitor induced (ACE-AE), and 12 mast cell-mediated without wheals in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU-AE). Ten healthy subjects served as controls. Serum levels of markers indicating activation of the ficolin-lectin pathway, of endothelial cells, or those indicating impairment of vascular integrity or inflammation were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

New routine clinical diagnostic criteria could not be identified, not even for distinguishing bradykinin-mediated (BK-) AE (ie, HAE and ACE-AE) from mast cell-/histamine-mediated CSU-AE. However, FAP-α and tPA were significantly increased in all AE compared to controls. In HAE, FAP- α, tPA, uPAR, pentraxin-3, Tie-2, sE-selectin, and VE-cadherin were significantly increased compared to controls. In HAE compared to CSU-AE and ACE-AE, sE-Selectin, Tie-2, and VE-Cadherin were significantly increased, whereas for Ang-2 the difference was significant compared to CSU-AE only. Tie-2 correlated strongly negatively with C4, C1-INH activity, and C1-INH function.

CONCLUSIONS

This study is the first to compare HAE, ACE-AE, and CSU-AE. Although significance is limited by small sample size, Tie-2 was identified as a new promising biomarker candidate for HAE. FAP- α and tPA might serve as a marker for AE in general, whereas sE-selectin and Ang-2 were increased in BK-AE only. Our results add information to the role of endothelial dysfunction and serine proteases in different AE subtypes.

Initial characteristics and follow-up of patients with a diagnosis of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor induced angioedema

Background: A differential diagnosis between angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) angioedema (AE) and histaminergic AE (hAE) might be challenging. Follow-up data may help discriminate these conditions but are scarcely reported. Objective: To report on the follow-up of patients with suspected ACEi-AE and to describe the baseline characteristics of AE attacks in patients with a diagnosis of ACEi-AE after follow-up. Methods: Sixty-four patients with suspected ACEi-AE (i.e., with exposure to ACEi before the first attack, no urticaria associated, and normal C1-inhibitor levels) and at least one follow-up visit were included. Data were retrospectively collected at baseline and during the follow-up. Results: After the follow-up, the diagnosis of ACEi-AE was probable in only 30 patients. The remaining patients were reclassified as having probable hAE (21 patients) or undetermined-mechanism AE (13 patients). Patients with ACEi-AE were mostly men (61%), with a median age of 64 years (interquartile range [IQR] ±17 years), with a highly variable delay from ACEi introduction (median: 23 months; interquartile range: 103 months). Attacks preferentially involved lips (50%), tongue (47%), and throat (30%). Interestingly, patients with probable ACEi-AE after a follow-up also frequently presented with a history of allergy and atopic conditions (20%), attacks with preferential evening onset (25%), and spontaneous resolution in < 24 hours (26%), which are usually considered as suggestive of hAE. ACEi-AE attacks responded to icatibant in 79% of the patients. Conclusion: Patients with probable ACEi-AE were mostly men with facial involvement. A third of the patients with an initial suspected diagnosis of ACEi-AE had a final diagnosis of probable hAE. Although a follow-up of all patients should be a standard of care, it is critical to the correct diagnosis in the case of suspected bradykinin-associated AE, which may actually be due to histamine.

The international EAACI/GA²LEN/EuroGuiDerm/APAAACI guideline for the definition, classification, diagnosis, and management of urticaria

This update and revision of the international guideline for urticaria was developed following the methods recommended by Cochrane and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) working group. It is a joint initiative of the Dermatology Section of the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA²LEN) and its Urticaria and Angioedema Centers of Reference and Excellence (UCAREs and ACAREs), the European Dermatology Forum (EDF; EuroGuiDerm), and the Asia Pacific Association of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology with the participation of 64 delegates of 50 national and international societies and from 31 countries. The consensus conference was held on 3 December 2020. This guideline was acknowledged and accepted by the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). Urticaria is a frequent, mast cell-driven disease that presents with wheals, angioedema, or both. The lifetime prevalence for acute urticaria is approximately 20%. Chronic spontaneous or inducible urticaria is disabling, impairs quality of life, and affects performance at work and school. This updated version of the international guideline for urticaria covers the definition and classification of urticaria and outlines expert-guided and evidence-based diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for the different subtypes of urticaria.

Clinical and laboratory characteristics of chronic spontaneous urticaria with connective tissue diseases: A cross-sectional study

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of connective tissue diseases (CTDs) in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and to evaluate clinical and laboratory characteristics of CSU accompanied by CTDs.

Patients and methods: Between January 2017 and December 2020, a total of 390 CSU patients (120 males, 270 females; mean age: 38.9±13.7 years; range, 18 to 78 years) were included in the study. Clinical and laboratory characteristics of CSU in patients with and without CTD were analyzed.

Results: A total of 6.4% patients (n=25) with CSU had CTD, and the rate was found to be 8.9% in female patients (n=24). In these patients, Sjögren syndrome (SS) was seen in 15 (5.5%), rheumatoid arthritis in five (1.85%), undifferentiated connective tissue disease in three (1.11%), and systemic lupus erythematosus in one (0.37%). Anti-thyroglobulin antibody, rheumatoid factor, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody, antinuclear antibody positivity, low complement 4 level, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were significantly different between CSU patients with and without CTD (p=0.013, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p=0.0182, p<0.001, respectively).

Conclusion: Our study results suggest that CSU is associated with CTDs, particularly with Sjögren syndrome. Every patient diagnosed with CSU should be questioned about rheumatic symptoms, particularly female patients and those having later-onset CSU.

The Role of Bradykinin Receptors in the Etiopathogenesis of Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria

Background and Objectives: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a distressing skin condition, which manifests as red, swollen, itchy, and sometimes painful hives or wheals appearing on skin. Recently, CSU has been associated with bradykinin release, which was previously discovered to be the main trigger of hereditary angioedema attacks. To study the role of bradykinin receptors 1 (BR1) and 2 (BR2) in the etiopathogenesis of CSU. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 individuals, 30 patients with CSU and 30 healthy subjects, were recruited to the study. CSU was diagnosed in accordance with the standardized protocol of dermatological assessment of skin symptoms. The level of bradykinin receptors was determined in populations of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, and CD8⁺ lymphocytes as well as in CD14⁺⁺CD16⁻, CD14⁺⁺CD16⁺ and CD14⁺CD16⁺ monocytes. In addition, urticaria activity score summed over 7 days (UAS-7) was assessed and correlated with BR1 and BR2 expression. Results: A statistically significant higher concentration of BR1 expression in lymphocytes was found in patients with CSU, compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Moreover, a statistically significant positive correlation was observed between UAS-7 and BR1/BR2 expression in CD14⁺⁺CD16⁻ cells (p = 0.03, R = 0.4). Conclusions: Bradykinin receptors are elevated in selected populations of lymphocytes in symptomatic CSU patients compared to healthy controls, indicating their role in the etiopathogenesis of the disease.

Epidemiology, comorbidities, and healthcare utilization of patients with chronic urticaria in Germany

BACKGROUND

Comprehensive data on the epidemiology and comorbidities of chronic urticaria (CU) in Germany are either limited, or not contemporary.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the epidemiology of CU, overall comorbidities and healthcare resource utilized by patients with CU in Germany, using an anonymized statutory health insurance (SHI) database.

METHODS

Anonymized SHI claims research database of the Institute for Applied Health Research, Berlin [InGef] (01 January 2015-30 September 2018) was used to analyse insured individuals with a confirmed diagnosis of CU (ICD-10-GM codes). Twelve-month diagnosed prevalence and incidence, comorbidities (vs. atopic dermatitis and psoriasis), and healthcare utilization by patients with CU were investigated.

RESULTS

Of 4 693 772 individuals of all ages listed in the database, 3 538 540 were observable during 2017. Overall, 17 524 patients (˜0.5%) were diagnosed with CU; chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU: 71.2%), chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU: 19.7%), CSU+CIndU (9.1%). Females, vs. males, had higher diagnosed prevalence (0.62% vs. 0.37%) and diagnosed incidence (0.18% vs. 0.11%) of CU among all patients. Patients most frequently visited general practitioners (41.3% of total visits). Hypertensive diseases (43.5%), lipoprotein metabolism disorders (32.1%) and affective disorders (26.0%) were the most frequently reported comorbidities of special interest. Rates of most comorbidities of special interests were similar to atopic dermatitis and psoriasis patients, and all higher vs. overall population. More than half (54.1%) of all CU patients were not prescribed any treatment. Second-generation H₁ -antihistamines were the most commonly prescribed medication for adult (17.9%) and paediatric (27.9%) patients. Patients with CIndU (paediatric, 15.5%; adult, 7.8%) were more often hospitalized versus patients with CSU (paediatric, 9.9%; adult, 4.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

In Germany, prevalence of CU along with multiple comorbidities may pose increased burden on the healthcare system. Awareness of adhering to treatment guidelines, and aiming for complete control of urticaria, needs to be driven and may improve outcomes.

Predictors of treatment response in chronic spontaneous urticaria

The current therapeutic algorithm for chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), endorsed by the international guideline, entails treatment escalation from second-generation H₁ -antihistamines (sgAHs) to omalizumab and cyclosporine until complete response is achieved. Recently, several predictors of response to these treatment options have been described. Here, we discuss the most promising predictors of response and nonresponse to these treatments in CSU. A systematic search was performed by two independent researchers using the MEDLINE/PubMed database with specific keywords and 73 studies included in the review. Levels of evidence were categorized as strong (robust predictors), weak (emerging predictors) or no association, based on the outcome and number of studies available. High disease activity, high levels of C-reactive protein and D-dimer are robust predictors for a poor or no response to sgAHs. Poor or no response to omalizumab is robustly predicted by low serum levels of total IgE. A good response to cyclosporine is robustly predicted by a positive basophil histamine release assay, whereas low total IgE is an emerging predictor. The response to treatment with sgAHs, omalizumab and cyclosporine can be predicted by the use of markers that are readily available in routine clinical practice. Further studies are needed to confirm these predictors.

COVID-19 Disease Leading to Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria Exacerbation: A Romanian Retrospective Study

(1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the exacerbation of various chronic diseases. Due to the potential impact of SARS-CoV-2 on mast cells, we aimed to analyze the relevance of COVID-19 disease on chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) clinical presentation and biological profile. (2) Methods: This study is a retrospective case series of patients with CSU diagnosed and treated in the Allergy Department of the Professor Doctor Octavian Fodor RIGH, (Cluj-Napoca, Romania). Patients were assessed for disease activity and level of control with the weekly urticaria activity score and the visual analogue scale. Results were correlated with COVID-19 severity and with nonspecific markers of inflammation during and after the SARS-CoV-2 infection. (3) Results: SARS-CoV-2 impacted a significant proportion (33%) of the CSU patients, of which 71% developed a moderate-severe form of COVID-19. Most of the patients (68%) had moderate-severe forms of CSU and 65% took AH1 treatment (one dose, two-fold dose or four-fold dose). The rest of them (35%) received the second-line treatment (40.3% Omalizumab, 53% Prednisolone and 4.8% Cyclosporine). In Omalizumab treated group of UCS patients we observed that COVID-19 disease was not severe. We established a positive correlation between the severity of the infection and that of the CSU clinical presentation, with most bothersome symptoms of urticaria being experienced by moderate to severe COVID-19 CSU patients (47%). Inflammatory markers were positively correlated (p = 0.01) with a more severe clinical profile of CSU, in accordance with our hypothesis that the level of inflammation triggered by COVID-19 disease has a role in CSU exacerbation. The non-specific inflammatory markers, such as CRP, were positively associated with the UAS7 score (R2 = 0.363; p = 0.001). An increased rate of exacerbation of CSU was observed in moderate-severe COVID-19 infection. (4) Conclusions: COVID-19 disease can result in the exacerbation of chronic spontaneous urticaria, more likely in moderate to severe forms of infection.

Urticaria and increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis: a two-sample Mendelian randomisation study in European population

BACKGROUND

In recent years, a growing body of observational studies suggest that urticaria is associated with a higher risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the causal association between urticaria and RA remains unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the causal relationship of urticaria and RA in European populations by Mendelian randomisation (MR) approach.

METHODS

We conducted two-sample MR analyses. Eleven single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with urticaria were used as instrumental variables. The summary data on urticaria were derived from FinnGen Data Freeze 2. The summary data on RA were obtained from a published meta-analysis using European samples. Four MR methods were applied to the MR estimates. Three heterogeneity tests, including Cochran's Q test, single variant analysis, and leave-one-out variant analysis, were used. The pleiotropy and horizontal pleiotropy among instrumental variables were assessed with MR-Egger regression intercept, MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier global test, and PhenoScanner.

RESULTS

The MR analysis suggested that urticaria was causally associated with RA (odds ratio = 1.114, 95% confidence interval = 1.024-1.211, p = .011). No genetic pleiotropy or horizontal pleiotropy was revealed by MR-Egger regression intercept and MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier global test. The sensitivity analysis results were relatively robust.

CONCLUSIONS

The MR analysis suggested there was sufficient evidence to indicate urticaria is the cause of RA.

Targeted Therapy for Chronıc Spontaneous Urtıcarıa: Ratıonale and Recent Progress

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is characterized by the presence of wheals, angioedema, or both for at least 6 weeks. It may persist for a long time-up to 50% of the patients have been reported to be symptomatic 5 years after the onset. Some patients can suffer more than one episode of CSU during their lifetime. Considering the recurrences, disabling symptoms, and significant impact on quality of life, proper and effective treatment of CSU is critical. The use of antihistamines (AHs) is still the mainstay of treatment. However, given the low rates of response to AHs (38.6% and 63.2% to standard doses and higher doses, respectively), the complete control of symptoms seems difficult to attain. The use of omalizumab for CSU has been a major breakthrough in the care of patients with CSU. However, the partial response and lack of response to omalizumab in a subgroup of patients, as high as 70% in some studies, make the development of alternative treatments desirable. Ever-increasing knowledge on the pathogenesis is making new target molecules available and enabling drug development for CSU. In addition to drug repurposing as in anti-IL-4/13, IL-5, and IL-17 antibodies, novel targeted therapy options such as ligelizumab and Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors are currently undergoing clinical trials and will be available in the near future. This article reviews the current challenges in the treatment of CSU, the pathogenesis and potential target molecules, and the rationale for novel treatments and their rapidly developing status.

Efficacy and Safety of Sea Salt-Derived Physiological Saline Nasal Spray as Add-On Therapy in Patients with Acute Upper Respiratory Infection: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

Background

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of seawater on nasal congestion and runny nose symptoms in adults with an acute upper respiratory infection (URI).

Material/Methods

This was a multicenter retrospective cohort trial of patients with acute URI and symptoms of nasal congestion and runny nose. The patients were assigned to 2 groups and were administered regular non-drug supportive treatment or supportive treatment with nasal irrigation with sea salt-derived physiological saline. The primary efficacy endpoint was the effective rate (percentage of patients with ≥30% symptom score reduction from baseline for nasal congestion and runny nose).

Results

In total, 144 patients were enrolled, including 72 in each group, and 143 patients completed the study. Both groups had similar demographics and vital signs. The effective rates for nasal congestion and runny nose were significantly increased in the seawater group compared with patients in the control group (87.3% vs 59.7% for nasal congestion; 85.9% vs 61.1% for runny nose; both P<0.001). In addition, the 2 groups showed markedly different degrees of patient symptom score improvement in sleep quality and appetite (both P<0.01), but not in cough and fatigue (both P>0.05). There were no adverse events in either group.

Conclusions

The sea salt-derived physiological saline nasal spray device satisfactorily improved nasal congestion, runny nose, sleep quality, and appetite in adults with URI, with no adverse effects.

Patients with Chronic Urticaria Remain Largely Undertreated: Results from the DERMLINE Online Survey

Introduction

Chronic urticaria (CU) is an unpredictable disease, with high disease burden and a significant negative impact on quality of life, especially in patients of working age. Many patients are undertreated, and there is poor awareness of strategies to manage patients with CU in the real-world setting. The current study aimed to gain a better understanding of CU from the patients’ perspective, including the body areas most affected by wheals and angioedema, the disease burden and current use of the healthcare system.

Methods

A nationwide online survey was performed in Germany involving individuals who reported a diagnosis of CU and experienced symptoms within 3 months prior to inclusion.

Results

This self-report survey included 1037 participants (89.2% female), with a mean ± standard deviation (SD) age of 33.4 ± 11.0 years and a mean ± SD disease duration of 10.0 ± 9.4 years. On average, participants suffered from urticaria symptoms for 3.0 ± 4.3 years before diagnosis. In 73% of participants, symptoms worsened due to external factors, with the majority specifying stress in their personal life or work-related stress as eliciting factors. Within the previous 3 months, 87.4 and 44.1% of participants experienced wheals and angioedema, respectively, at multiple body areas, and most (79.6%) participants had uncontrolled symptoms as measured with the Urticaria Control Test. Despite the high burden of disease, 60.3% of participants stated that they were not currently receiving treatment. The most commonly used therapies to treat CU were oral (72.8%) and non-prescription (43.3%) and prescription (47.3%) topical drugs, with 18.0% of the participants receiving injectable/infused drugs.

Conclusion

The majority of the participants responding to the survey reported that CU is not sufficiently controlled, thereby severely influencing a highly productive time in their life. The body areas most affected by wheals and angioedema are specified, based on data provided by a large group of affected participants. A greater awareness of disease burden and available treatment options is needed.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13555-021-00537-5.

Treatment satisfaction in chronic urticaria during guideline-based therapy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Patients with chronic urticaria are often unsatisfied with their treatment. We aimed to assess patient satisfaction, chronic urticaria control, treatment goals, self-treatment competence, knowledge, and factors influencing treatment satisfaction.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Eighty-seven adult patients with chronic urticaria who were previously insufficiently treated with oral antihistamines received guideline-based care for six months and completed questionnaires.

RESULTS

This study included patients with chronic spontaneous (80 %) and/or inducible urticaria (CIndU, 32 %). Significant median improvements were observed with the urticaria control test (UCT, from 7 to 11), the urticaria activity score for patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (from 19 to 10), and treatment satisfaction (from 5.2 to 8.4). Six significant, independent factors of treatment satisfaction after six months of treatment were identified (negative: male sex, CIndU, sleep disturbances; positive: UCT, baseline treatment satisfaction, perceived competence of the study physician). Adequate urticaria control (UCT ≥ 12) was achieved in 19 % of patients with CIndU and 61 % of patients without CIndU.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with chronic urticaria who were previously insufficiently treated with antihistamines, six months of guideline-based therapy significantly improved disease control and treatment satisfaction. Adequate control requires several consultations for many patients and is considerably more difficult to achieve for CIndU.

The Role of Interleukin 10 and 18 in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria Pathogenesis in the Context of Angioedema Coexistence

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is defined using clinical symptoms as spontaneous occurrence of itchy wheals and/or angioedema for at least 6 weeks. Angioedema is underdiagnosed in CSU patients, and its presence has significant negative impact on health-related quality of life, daily activities, health care resource utilization, and work. Various cytokines have been found to be involved in pathogenesis of CSU. To study levels of interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-18 in CSU patients and to look for the differences in CSU subgroups divided with regard to angioedema reoccurrence, we included consecutive CSU patients into the study. To assess disease activity, urticaria activity score was used. In addition, we calculated disease duration time. In all groups, Il-10 and Il-18 serum concentrations were measured. The study involved 52 patients with CSU and 47 healthy volunteers. The IL-10 level was statistically significantly higher in patients with CSU compared to the control group. There were no significant differences in level of IL-18 between those groups. Comparison of patients with CSU and angioedema with those without angioedema showed no significant differences in level of IL-10 and IL-18. We see the need for further studies of serum levels of IL-10 and IL-18 to better understand the pathogenesis of the disease and to find markers useful in predicting the symptom type in the course of CSU.

The Diagnostic Workup in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria-What to Test and Why

BACKGROUND

In chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), the guidelines recommend very limited diagnostic procedures during the routine workup, although additional investigations might be indicated in some patients with CSU. For physicians treating patients with CSU, it is often difficult to decide which diagnostic tests are useful.

OBJECTIVE

To provide recommendations on what diagnostic tests should be performed on which patients with CSU.

METHODS

We performed an extensive literature search on the respective topics and identified relevant questions that should prompt diagnostic procedures based on the published evidence and expert consensus among all authors.

RESULTS

We provide questions, diagnostic testing, where appropriate, and recommendation that should be included when assessing the history of a patient with CSU, to explore and rule out differential diagnoses, to assess patients for underlying causes and modifying conditions, to explore patients for comorbid diseases and consequences of having CSU, and to assess patients for CSU components that can help to predict their disease course and response to treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Here, we provide physicians treating patients with CSU with information about which clues should lead to which tests and why.

Paeoniflorin suppresses allergic and inflammatory responses by promoting autophagy in rats with urticaria

Paeoniflorin (PF) has been reported to be effective against several skin disorders, such as allergic contact dermatitis and psoriasis; however, it remains unclear whether PF can protect against urticarial lesions. Herein, the effects of PF on rats with urticarial lesions and the possible underlying mechanism were investigated. The effects of PF administration on a rat model of ovalbumin-induced urticarial-like lesions were evaluated via pathological analysis using hematoxylin-eosin staining. Toluidine blue staining was performed to detect mast cells and ELISA was performed to determine serum histamine levels. PF-induced regulatory effects on autophagic activity and the potential underlying mechanism of this were also investigated using transmission electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. It was demonstrated that PF suppressed allergic and inflammatory responses to improve urticarial lesions, as evidenced by the attenuation of pathological abnormalities, mast cell infiltration and histamine secretion. Mechanistically, PF treatment was found to markedly limit the production and release of inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-23, while the levels of IL-17 remained unchanged. PF intervention led to an increased number of autophagosomes, along with higher levels of light chain 3B (LC3B) and Beclin-1, and lower levels of P62, indicating that PF could augment autophagic activity in urticarial lesions. PF treatment increased the expression of liver kinase B1 (LKB1) and AMP-activated protein kinase-α (AMPK-α), contributing to the PF-enhanced autophagic activity. In conclusion, PF could effectively improve urticarial lesions by inhibiting inflammatory cytokine IL-23 and increasing the autophagic activity via the LKB1/AMPK-α pathway.

Efficacy of NB-UVB as Add-on Therapy to Antihistamine in the Treatment of Chronic Urticaria: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Introduction

Narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy has been used for the treatment of chronic urticaria (CU), but the clinical efficacy of this treatment modality requires further evidence. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials were conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of NB-UVB as add-on therapy in the treatment of CU.

Methods

A literature search was conducted in the Cochrane, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, CBM, VIP and WanFang databases up to October 2020. A total of nine studies involving 713 participants met the inclusion criteria.

Results

Two trials showed a significant difference in the Urticaria Activity Score between therapy with NB-UVB + antihistamines and that with antihistamines alone (mean difference 8.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.78–10.68, p < 0.00001). Six trials (563 participants) showed a significant benefit of NB-UVB as add-on therapy to antihistamines in the total effective rate (risk ratio [RR] 1.56, 95% CI 1.39–1.75, p < 0.00001). In terms of adverse events, no statistically significant differences were found for NB-UVB + antihistamines versus antihistamines alone (RR 1.10, 95% CI 0.67–1.79, p = 0.71). Combination therapy of NB-UVB + antihistamines yielded a significantly lower risk of recurrence (RR 0.25, 95% CI 0.14–0.44, p < 0.00001).

Conclusion

Our meta-analysis suggests that combination therapy of NB-UVB + antihistamines is significantly more effective in treating CU than antihistamines alone.

Socio-economic burden and resource utilisation in Italian patients with chronic urticaria: 2-year data from the AWARE study

Introduction

In Italy, the real-world evidence on the extent of adherence to guidelines and the benefits of recommended therapeutic medications and their impact on the quality of life (QoL) of H₁-antihistamines (H₁-AH) refractory chronic urticaria (CU) patients is limited.

Methods

AWARE (A World-wide Antihistamine-Refractory chronic urticaria patient Evaluation) was a global prospective, non-interventional study of CU in real-world setting which included patients aged ≥18 years with a medically confirmed diagnosed of CU present for more than 2 months. In this study, the disease characteristics, pharmacological treatments and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are reported.

Results

In total, 159 patients from 24 study centres in Italy completed the study. At baseline, 221 (89.5%) and 8 (3.2%) patients had chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU), respectively, while 18 (7.3%) patients had concomitant CSU and CIndU. For CSU patients, mean dermatology life quality index and CU quality of life questionnaire scores reduced to 3.0 ± 4.9 and 14.6 ± 18.6 at Month 24 from baseline scores of 7.5 ± 6.6 and 33.2 ± 19.5, respectively, indicating an improvement in QoL. This was reflected in their work-life as work productivity impairment reduced considerably after 2 years. Only 71.9% CSU patients had a prior treatment, while during the study, 96.8% of the patients were treated with a medication. At baseline, only 52.9% CSU patients reported nonsedating H₁-antihistamines as first-line of treatment in prior medication, this increased to 89.6% during current medication.

Conclusion

This study shows that CSU has a considerable socio-economic burden and an improvement in QoL can be achieved in CSU patients if an appropriate therapeutic path is followed.

Chronic Urticaria and Its Impact on the Quality of Life of Nepalese Patients

Chronic urticaria (CU) is a skin condition characterized by sudden and recurrent episodes of wheals, angioedema, or both and commonly associated with itching for a duration of more than six weeks. The available data indicate that urticaria markedly affects both objective functioning and subjective well-being of patients. A review of patients' records with chronic urticaria attending Civil Service Hospital from January 2018 to December 2019 was done. A detailed demographic data of all patients with chronic urticaria was also retrieved. Dermatology Life Quality Index questionnaire (DLQI) Nepalese version was used for the assessment of the impact of disease on life quality. Mann–Whitney U-test was applied to compare means, and principle component analysis for factor analysis was used. A total of 149 patients were included, with a male-to-female ratio of 1 : 1.9. The mean age of the study population was 32.86 ± 12.837 years. The mean DLQI score was 8.30 ± 6.73 with men having a significantly greater score than women (p < 0.02). DLQI scores negatively correlated with age (p < 0.01). There was a high internal consistency among items (Cronbach's alpha 0.89), and all items had satisfactory correlation with each other as well. Principle component extraction revealed that there were two underlying factors in the DLQI questionnaire on measuring quality of life in chronic urticaria. Males had a greater impairment in quality of life than females due to chronic urticaria. Most severe impairment was seen in symptoms/feelings subdomain. It also revealed that there were two different underlying factors in DLQI questionnaire.

Efficacy of Bloodletting Therapy in Patients with Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria: A Randomized Control Trial

Objective

To assess the efficacy of bloodletting therapy (acupoint pricking and cupping) in patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) in a randomized, control, parallel-group trial.

Methods

A total of 174 patients with CIU enrolled from March 2018 to October 2019 were randomized into three groups: group A treated with bloodletting therapy and ebastine, group B treated with placebo treatment (acupoint pseudopricking and cupping) and ebastine, and group C treated with ebastine only. The intention-to-treat analysis was conducted, and the primary outcome was the effective rate of UAS7 score being reduced to 7 or below after treatment phase.

Results

The effective rates at the end of treatment phase were different among the three groups (P < 0.05), which were 73.7% in group A, 45.6% in group B, and 42.9% in group C. Multiple analysis indicated differences between groups A and B (P < 0.0125) and groups A and C (P < 0.0125) and no difference between groups B and C (P > 0.0125). No severe bloodletting therapy-related adverse events were observed.

Conclusions

In this study on patients with CIU, one month of bloodletting therapy combined with ebastine is clinically beneficial compared with placebo treatment combined with ebastine and treatment with ebastine only. Thus, bloodletting therapy can be an effective complementary treatment in CIU. This trial is registered with ChiCTR1800015294.

Chronic urticaria treatment patterns and changes in quality of life: AWARE study 2-year results

Background

A Worldwide Antihistamine-Refractory Chronic Urticaria (CU) patient Evaluation (AWARE) is a non-interventional, multicenter study including patients from Europe, Central and Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East. AWARE describes real-world evidence for CU, including clinical characteristics, treatment patterns and the impact on quality of life.

Methods

Over the 2-year study, therapy changes, angioedema occurrence, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were recorded over 9 visits, including dermatology life quality index (DLQI) and 7-day urticaria activity score (UAS7). Data were stratified into subgroups: chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU), or CSU + CIndU.

Results

Out of 4838 patients analyzed, 9.9% were receiving no treatment for their CU symptoms at baseline, and 20.4% were receiving first-line non-sedating H₁-antihistamine at approved doses. The predominant baseline therapy was up-dosed non-sedating H₁-antihistamines (25.5%). By Visit 2, omalizumab was the overall most commonly used therapy (29.6%), increasing to 30.1% by the end of the study. Baseline DLQI scores for patients with CSU, CIndU and CSU + CIndU were 8.3, 7.6 and 9.1, respectively; scores decreased over the study for CSU and CSU + CIndU patients, but fluctuated for CIndU patients. Baseline angioedema occurrence was higher in CSU and CSU + CIndU patients, reported in 45.4% and 45.5% of patients, respectively, compared to 17.0% in CIndU patients. By the final visit, angioedema had decreased to 11.9% and 11.2% for CSU and CSU + CIndU, respectively, and 9.6% for CIndU.

Conclusion

CU patients are undertreated at baseline; after entering the AWARE study, more patients received appropriate treatment. However, over two thirds are not escalated to third-line treatments.

Chronic urticaria in the real-life clinical practice setting in the UK: results from the noninterventional multicentre AWARE study

BACKGROUND

Chronic urticaria (CU) is a skin condition characterized by repeated occurrence of itchy weals and/or angio-oedema for > 6 weeks.

AIM

To provide data demonstrating the real-life burden of CU in the UK.

METHODS

This UK subset of the worldwide, prospective, noninterventional AWARE study included patients aged 18-75 years diagnosed with H1-antihistamine (H1-AH)-refractory chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) for > 2 months. Baseline characteristics, disease activity, treatments, comorbidities and healthcare resource use were documented. Quality of life (QoL), work productivity and activity impairment were assessed.

RESULTS

Baseline analysis included 252 UK patients. Mean age and body mass index were 45.0 years and 29.0 kg/m² , respectively. Most patients were female (77.8%) and had moderate/severe disease activity (mean Urticaria Activity Score over 7 days was 18.4) and a 'spontaneous' component to their CU (73.4% CSU; 24.6% CSU and chronic inducible urticaria). Common comorbidities included depression/anxiety (24.6%), asthma (23.8%) and allergic rhinitis (12.7%). A previous treatment was recorded for 57.9% of patients. Mean Dermatology Life Quality Index score was 9.5, and patients reported impairments in work productivity and activity. Healthcare resource use was high. Severity of CSU was associated with female sex, obesity, anxiety and diagnosis. Only 28.5% of patients completed all nine study visits, limiting analysis of long-term treatment patterns and disease impact.

CONCLUSIONS

Adult H1-AH-refractory patients with CU in the UK reported high rates of healthcare resource use and impairment in QoL, work productivity and activity at baseline. The differing structures of UK healthcare may explain the high study discontinuation rates versus other countries.