title: Practical algorithm for diagnosing patients with recurrent wheals or angioedema.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic urticaria is a common disorder characterized by recurrent wheals, angioedema, or both. Several differential diagnoses need to be considered in patients presenting with wheals and/or angioedema. These include rare diseases such as autoinflammatory syndromes and urticarial vasculitis in patients with recurrent wheals and bradykinin-mediated angioedema in patients with recurrent swellings. AIM AND RESULT: In order to not miss these conditions, we have developed a symptom-based diagnostic algorithm for the management of patients with wheals and/or angioedema.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By asking the right questions and performing a limited diagnostic workup as suggested here, this algorithm may help to establish the right diagnosis and treat patients early and more effectively.
authors: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Allergie-Centrum-Charité, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. marcus.maurer@charite.de
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Maurer
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Magerl
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Metz
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Siebenhaar
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Weller
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Krause
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000799:Angioedema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D054179:Angioedemas, Hereditary / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D056660:Hereditary Autoinflammatory Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D012008:Recurrence; D019873:Schnitzler Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014581:Urticaria / Q000209:etiology*; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*