A case report of double-filtration plasmapheresis for the resolution of refractory chronic urticaria.

A 29-year-old Chinese female was diagnosed with chronic urticaria. Dexamethasone and gamma globulin initially resolved the illness; however, when dexamethasone was decreased and gamma globulin was withdrawn, urticaria emerged again and could not be controlled by any of the medications used. The diagnosis of refractory chronic urticaria was made and double-filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) was performed. The symptoms were relieved during the first DFPP procedure and the disease resolved shortly thereafter. DFPP theoretically removes medium to large molecular substances such as IgG and IgE from circulation, and therefore may prove to be an effective treatment for refractory chronic urticaria.