Chronic urticaria.
Chronic urticaria is defined as case of spontaneous wheals and/or angioedema persisting for a period of at least six weeks. The disease has an average duration of three to five years and is strongly associated with a decrease of quality of life and performance. Current international guidelines recommend the use of non-sedating antihistamines as the first choice in therapy and up-dosing these up to fourfold in cases of non-response. Alternative treatments for the afflicted who do not respond to antihistamine-treatment are also available but are not approved for use on urticaria.
Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Allergie-Centrum-Charité, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany. torsten.zuberbier@charite.de
Torsten
T
Zuberbier
D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D000069444:Omalizumab; D014581:Urticaria / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy
D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000069444:Omalizumab