title: Solar urticaria successfully treated with intravenous immunoglobulins.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Idiopathic solar urticaria (SU) is a rare type of physical urticaria, occurring immediately after exposure to visible or ultraviolet (UV) light. Treatment is based on sun avoidance and on high doses of antihistamines, but is sometimes inefficient.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report on a 41-year-old patient with severe SU who was successfully treated with a single course of 2 g/kg of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A dramatic improvement in UVA and UVB tolerance was rapidly observed, with an increase of up to 10 times the UVA minimal urticarial dose on day 3. The treatment with terfenadine was continued. Healing of photosensitivity was persistent since 100 days after the single course of IVIG, no urticarian reaction was provoked with polychromatic irradiation rising above 8.3 J/cm(2) or after UVA doses rising above 15 J/cm(2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of IVIG in severe SU can be discussed when high-dose antihistamines are inefficient and quality of life is affected.
authors.affiliation: Departement of Dermatology, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Université Denis Diderot Paris VII, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maksimovic
authors.forename: Guillemette
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Frémont
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jeanmougin
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dubertret
authors.forename: Manuelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viguier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010787:Photosensitivity Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016593:Terfenadine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014581:Urticaria / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016593:Terfenadine