title: Management and treatment of chronic urticaria (CU).
abstract: Developments increasing our understanding of chronic urticaria have resulted in the simplification and improvement of available treatments. Currently, many treatments target mast cell mediators, but we can now disrupt mast cell activation with the anti-IgE antibody omalizumab, which has markedly advanced the treatment landscape for patients with difficult-to-treat urticaria. Current guidelines provide a framework for the management and treatment of patients with CU but, as each patient is different, knowledge and experience of specialist dermatologists and allergists are key to effective pharmacotherapy. This article reviews the different therapeutic options for patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (also called chronic idiopathic urticaria) or chronic inducible urticaria and discusses management of special populations or special circumstances related to CU.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Allergie-Centrum-Charité, Charité - Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maurer
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Allergie-Centrum-Charité, Charité - Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Church
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Dermatology, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gonçalo
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, St. Michael's Hospital and University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sussman
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Clinical Immunology Department, Centro Médico-Docente La Trinidad, Caracas, Venezuela.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Borges
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003080:Cold Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D000069444:Omalizumab / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D011312:Pressure / Q000009:adverse effects; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects; D014581:Urticaria / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D000069444:Omalizumab