title: Six cases of antihistamine-resistant dermographic urticaria treated with oral ciclosporin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dermographic urticaria (DU) is characterized by strong itch and wheals induced by mechanical scratching. H(1)-receptor antagonists may reduce symptoms of DU to some extent, but other treatments being used for chronic spontaneous urticaria, such as H(2)-receptor antagonists and corticosteroids, are not usually effective for DU.
  
  
  METHODS
  We here report six cases of antihistamine-resistant DU treated with oral ciclosporin. Four cases suffering from severe itches that spontaneously occurred before the appearance of wheals in response to scratching were substantially improved by use of ciclosporin for 21, 16, 32, and 8 months, and one of them reached complete remission. Two cases did not obtain a benefit from the treatment, because of insufficient effects and/or side effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral ciclosporin may be of value as a potential treatment of anti-histamine-resistant DU.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Division of Molecular Medical Science, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Sayuri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Toda
authors.forename: Shunsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takahagi
authors.forename: Shoji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mihara
authors.forename: Michihiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hide
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014581:Urticaria / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine