title: Azathioprine as a therapeutic alternative for refractory chronic urticaria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic urticaria (CU) affects up to 1% of the general population. Its impact on quality of life is immense, and patients might require multiple drugs to control symptoms. The main therapeutic challenge in the treatment of CU is to maintain symptomatic control while minimizing the use of glucocorticosteroids and their plethora of side effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two patients with severe, refractory CU after treatment failure with various drugs, including high-dose cyclosporine, were administered azathioprine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both patients, the treatment with azathioprine resulted in a significant clinical improvement, enabling steroid withdrawal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Azathioprine should be considered as a therapeutic option for chronic, steroid-dependent urticaria, refractory to other treatments.
authors: Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors: Yuval
authors: Y
authors: Tal
authors: Ori
authors: O
authors: Toker
authors: Nancy
authors: N
authors: Agmon-Levin
authors: Meir
authors: M
authors: Shalit
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019233:Retreatment; D014581:Urticaria / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D001379:Azathioprine