Chronic idiopathic urticaria treatment.

Allergy Section. "Virgen de la Arrixaca" University Hospital. Associated Professor of Allergy. University of Murcia. Murcia. Spain. jnegroa@meditex.es

Chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) is a common skin condition that affects 0.1-3 % of people in the USA and Europe and accounts for nearly 75 % of all chronic urticaria cases. Up to 40 % of patients who have chronic urticaria for more than 6 months still have urticarial wheals 10 years later.The therapeutic management should first be oriented towards palliation of symptoms. A 2 % solution of ephedrine as a local spray is very useful for oropharyngeal edema. H1 antihistamines with a low potential for sedation are the most important first-line treatment.Combinations of various antihistamines may be useful in suppressing symptomatology. These include: a) First generation H1 antihistamines; b) Combinations of first and second generations using non-sedating agents in the morning and first generation drugs at night; c) Combinations of second generation antihistamines; d) Combination of doxepin with a first or second generation antihistamine; e) Combination of an H2 anti-receptor antihistamine (eg, cimetidine or ranitidine) with a first or second generation antihistamine.Preliminary reports suggest that desloratadine and anti-leukotrienes may be effective in treating some patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria.

PMID: 11674926 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]