title: Solar urticaria induced by visible light: successful treatment with omalizumab.
abstract: We report the case of a 53-year-old man with solar urticaria (SU) not responding to histamine antagonist therapy. Using intradermal testing with the patient's irradiated serum, we demonstrated that his SU was elicited by visible light only. This type of SU is uncommon, and makes preventive measures such as sun block largely ineffective. However, the patient had an extraordinary response to the treatment with omalizumab. This case report highlights the diagnostic process and the success of omalizumab for the treatment of SU after 16 months of follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy Unit, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Terrani
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy Unit, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Bircher
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy Unit, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Scherer Hofmeier
mesh_terms: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069444:Omalizumab / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010787:Photosensitivity Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014581:Urticaria / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D000069444:Omalizumab