BACKGROUND: Guidelines including level of evidence and grade of recommendation were recently published for chronic urticaria (CU). OBJECTIVES: To describe the therapeutic approach in patients with CU, and to depict how recent guidelines are implemented in the daily practice of management of CU. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional multicentre study through a questionnaire answered by 139 specialists. In total, 695 patients were evaluated, mean+/-SD age 42.3+/-15 years, 62.1% women. Of the patients, 168 were treated by an allergist, 473 by a dermatologist and in 54 cases the specialist was not stated. The drug prescribed was the main variable, and chi2 and Fisher's tests were utilized for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: Nonsedating anti-H1 antihistamines taken regularly were the most common drugs prescribed, followed by nonsedating anti-H1 antihistamines taken as needed, corticosteroids, sedating antihistamines taken regularly, sedating antihistamines taken as needed, anti-H2 antihistamines, leukotriene antagonists, ciclosporin and doxepin. Nonsedating antihistamines plus corticosteroids was the most frequent drug combination prescribed. When comparing between allergists and dermatologists we found a positive and significant correlation only between prescription of cetirizine, dexchlorfeniramine, leukotriene antagonists and anti-H2 antihistamines and being treated by an allergist. A positive correlation was found with desloratadine and being seen by a dermatologist. We did not find any difference in CU management in the rest of the treatments studied. CONCLUSIONS: It is surprising that a large amount of sedating antihistamines was prescribed. In many instances these were prescribed as needed. This fact could have a negative impact on urticaria control and patient satisfaction. It seems difficult for the nonexpert to differentiate between CU and any kind of physical urticaria.
BACKGROUND: Guidelines including level of evidence and grade of recommendation were recently published for chronic urticaria (CU). OBJECTIVES: To describe the therapeutic approach in patients with CU, and to depict how recent guidelines are implemented in the daily practice of management of CU. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional multicentre study through a questionnaire answered by 139 specialists. In total, 695 patients were evaluated, mean+/-SD age 42.3+/-15 years, 62.1% women. Of the patients, 168 were treated by an allergist, 473 by a dermatologist and in 54 cases the specialist was not stated. The drug prescribed was the main variable, and chi2 and Fisher's tests were utilized for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: Nonsedating anti-H1 antihistamines taken regularly were the most common drugs prescribed, followed by nonsedating anti-H1 antihistamines taken as needed, corticosteroids, sedating antihistamines taken regularly, sedating antihistamines taken as needed, anti-H2 antihistamines, leukotriene antagonists, ciclosporin and doxepin. Nonsedating antihistamines plus corticosteroids was the most frequent drug combination prescribed. When comparing between allergists and dermatologists we found a positive and significant correlation only between prescription of cetirizine, dexchlorfeniramine, leukotriene antagonists and anti-H2 antihistamines and being treated by an allergist. A positive correlation was found with desloratadine and being seen by a dermatologist. We did not find any difference in CU management in the rest of the treatments studied. CONCLUSIONS: It is surprising that a large amount of sedating antihistamines was prescribed. In many instances these were prescribed as needed. This fact could have a negative impact on urticaria control and patient satisfaction. It seems difficult for the nonexpert to differentiate between CU and any kind of physical urticaria.
Authors: I Cherrez Ojeda; E Vanegas; M Felix; V Mata; S Cherrez; D Simancas-Racines; L Greiding; J Cano; A Cherrez; Juan Carlos Calderon Journal: World Allergy Organ J Date: 2018-01-03 Impact factor: 4.084
Authors: A Cherrez; M Maurer; K Weller; J C Calderon; D Simancas-Racines; I Cherrez Ojeda Journal: World Allergy Organ J Date: 2017-05-23 Impact factor: 4.084
Authors: Pavel Kolkhir; Dmitry Pogorelov; Razvigor Darlenski; Marco Caminati; Luciana Kase Tanno; Duy Le Pham; Alexei Gonzalez-Estrada; Darío Antolín-Amérigo; Ves Dimov; Karsten Weller; Mario Sánchez-Borges; Ignacio Ansotegui; Marcus Maurer Journal: World Allergy Organ J Date: 2018-07-04 Impact factor: 4.084