title: Chronic urticaria: mechanisms and treatment.
abstract: Chronic urticaria (CU) is a vexing clinical syndrome. The clinician is challenged by the patient's symptoms. The experienced physician can evaluate the CU patient and prescribe effective treatment. The following review emphasizes the autoimmune mechanisms of CU. Despite this new insight into the pathogenesis of CU, many cases are still categorized as idiopathic. CU patients are a heterogenous group of patients who require an individualized approach to evaluation and management.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Florida Health Sciences Center, 13000 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., VAR 111D, Tampa, FL 63312, USA.
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Fox
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014581:Urticaria / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D001323:Autoantibodies; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists; D016572:Cyclosporine