title: Treatment of chronic urticaria.
abstract: Urticaria is a disorder characterized by rapid onset of localized swelling of the skin or mucosa, called wheals or urtica. According to frequency and duration, urticaria can be divided into acute and chronic type. Chronic urticaria is any type of urticaria occurring every day or twice per week, lasting longer than 6 weeks. Chronic urticaria is a common disorder and estimated prevalence is 1% of the population. Also, it is not rare in childhood. The pathogenesis of chronic urticaria has not yet been completely understood. Chronic urticaria is a heterogeneous group of disorders, and according to the etiology and cause, several groups of chronic urticaria are distinguished, i.e. autoimmune, pseudoallergic, infection-related, physical urticaria, vasculitis urticaria and idiopathic urticaria. Treatment and management of chronic urticaria can be non-pharmacological and pharmacological, and sometimes it is not possible to control the disease with antihistamines only, which are considered to be the mainstay of treatment. In severe cases of chronic urticaria, especially if autoimmunity has been proven, several authors describe different modules of immunomodulation: cyclosporine, cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate-mofetil, omalizumab, plasmapheresis, systemic corticosteroids, and immunoglobulin therapy. This article primarily addresses the treatment of chronic idiopathic and autoimmune urticaria.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Zagreb University Hospital Center and School of Medicine, Salata 4, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ruzica
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jurakić Toncić
authors.forename: Jasna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lipozencić
authors.forename: Branka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marinović
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014581:Urticaria / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents