title: Autologous serum therapy in chronic urticaria: a promising complement to antihistamines.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic urticaria (CU) is a vexing problem and patients of CU suffer from the morbidity that arise from irritable itch and weals and are also subjected to a huge antihistamine pill burden. The symptoms are more in autoreactive urticaria (AU) where auto-antibodies in blood flares-up the condition. Search for newer effective modalities which can reduce pill burden is a felt need.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluates the effectiveness of autologous serum therapy (AST) in CU and also determines its usefulness in AU.
  
  
  METHODS
  Double blind, parallel group, randomized, controlled study. Fifty four patients were given AST and 57 patients were given injection normal saline (placebo), along with cetirizine in an on-demand basis in both groups. AST/Placebo was given weekly for nine weeks and followed-up for a total period of 24 weeks. AU was diagnosed by autologous serum skin test. Urticaria total severity score (TSS), Urticaria activity score (UAS), Dermatologic life quality index (DLQI) was used as primary effectiveness variables. Safety parameters assessed were the spontaneously reported adverse events and laboratory parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TSS showed significant improvement from baseline, 7(th) week and 8(th) week onwards in AST group and placebo group respectively. Group comparison showed significant improvement 4(th) week onwards. UAS showed similar results. DLQI showed significant improvement in AST group compared to placebo at the end of study. Both AU and non-AU patients showed comparable improvement of TSS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AST shows promise in treatment of urticaria regardless of the autoreactive nature.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
authors: Panchami
authors: P
authors: Debbarman
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
authors: Amrita
authors: A
authors: Sil
authors: Department of Dermatology, Bankura Sammilani Medical College and Hospital, Bankura, West Bengal, India.
authors: Piyush Kanti
authors: PK
authors: Datta
authors: Department of Dermatology, Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
authors: Debabrata
authors: D
authors: Bandyopadhyay
authors: Department of Dermatology, Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
authors: Nilay Kanti
authors: NK
authors: Das
keywords: Autologous serum skin test; autologous serum therapy; autoreactive urticaria; cetirizine chronic urticaria