title: Solar urticaria treated with intravenous immunoglobulins.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Solar urticaria (SU) is a rare idiopathic photodermatosis induced immediately after sun exposure. This disorder may considerably restrict normal daily life and management is extremely difficult when treatment with oral H1 antihistamines and sun avoidance are ineffective.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to report the effectiveness of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) in severe SU.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective multicentric study via the mailing of a questionnaire to the French photodermatology units to analyze all cases of patients with SU who were treated with IVIG.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven patients (5 women) with a mean age of 40 years (range 32-55 years) and a mean disease duration of 5 years (range 2-10 years) received IVIG. The administration schedule differed from one patient to another: 1.4 to 2.5 g/kg were infused over 2 to 5 days. Five of 7 patients obtained a complete remission. The number of courses necessary to obtain clinical remission varied from 1 to 3 courses. Complete remission was maintained during 4 to more than 12 months but antihistamines were still required. In one case, psoralen plus ultraviolet A photochemotherapy was administered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Retrospective study design, limited number of patients, and variations in the IVIG administration schedule could limit the interpretation of the results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our case series suggests a beneficial effect of IVIG in severe SU but additional prospective trials including a larger number of patients are needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of IVIG and to specify the optimal modalities of their administration in this disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology at University of Rennes, Rennes, France. Electronic address: henri.adamski@chu-rennes.fr.
authors.forename: Henri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Adamski
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Limoges, Limoges, France.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bedane
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Lille, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonnevalle
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Lille, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Peyron
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Saint-Etienne, Saint-Etienne, France.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rouchouse
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Saint-Etienne, Saint-Etienne, France.
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cambazard
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Saint-Louis Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris VII University, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jeanmougin
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Saint-Louis Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris VII University, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Manuelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viguier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010787:Photosensitivity Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014581:Urticaria / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous