title: Severe and refractory solar urticaria treated with intravenous immunoglobulins: a phase II multicenter study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Retrospective data have suggested the effectiveness of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) for solar urticaria (SU).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to prospectively assess the efficacy of IVIG for SU.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a multicentric phase II study to test the efficacy of a single course of IVIG (2 g/kg) in patients with severe and refractory SU. The primary outcome was remission of SU on phototesting at 12 weeks after IVIG treatment. Secondary objectives included clinical remission, improved quality of life, and 50% improvement in disease intensity as measured on a visual analog scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 9 patients who received IVIG injection, 2 showed remission of SU on phototesting, corresponding to a response rate of 22.2% (95% confidence interval 2.8%-60.0%). In all, 6 patients (67%) showed at least 1 response criterion after 4 weeks and 5 (56%) after 12 weeks. Response was maintained after 24 weeks for 2 patients and after 48 weeks for 1 patient. About half of the patients (56%) had moderate to severe headache.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lack of control arm and small number of patients are limitations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A single course of IVIG appears insufficient to obtain prolonged significant control of SU; future evaluation of different schedules of IVIG administration is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Université de Franche Comté, EA3181, SFR4234 and Service de Dermatologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Besançon, France.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aubin
authors.affiliation: Université Paris Descartes, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôtel-Dieu, Centre d'Epidémiologie Clinique, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Raphaël
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Porcher
authors.affiliation: Université Paris Diderot, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Service de Dermatologie, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jeanmougin
authors.affiliation: Service de Dermatologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Reims, France.
authors.forename: Fabienne
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Léonard
authors.affiliation: Service de Dermatologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Limoges, France.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bedane
authors.affiliation: Service de Dermatologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Caen, France.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moreau
authors.affiliation: Service de Dermatologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Nancy, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Schmutz
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Larrey, Service de Dermatologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Marie-Claude
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Marguery
authors.affiliation: Service de Dermatologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Rennes, France.
authors.forename: Henri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Adamski
authors.affiliation: Université Paris Diderot, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Service de Dermatologie, Paris, France. Electronic address: manuelle.viguier@sls.aphp.fr.
authors.forename: Manuelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viguier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010787:Photosensitivity Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects; D014581:Urticaria / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007155:Immunologic Factors
keywords: adverse events; aseptic meningitis; headache; intravenous immunoglobulins; minimal urticarial dose; phototesting; side effects; solar urticaria