BACKGROUND: Symptomatic dermographism is the most common form of physical urticaria with a prevalence of 2-5%. However, its clinical picture has rarely been described. OBJECTIVE: To understand more of patients' views about the practical aspects of their condition, its cause and impact on quality of life. METHODS: Ninety-one of 150 patients with symptomatic dermographism from our specialist urticaria clinic completed a 38-question questionnaire sent them by mail. RESULTS: The mean duration of disease was 6¼ years. In most patients, the condition was continuous, but ~25% had prolonged symptom-free phases. Severity was evaluated as moderate in 45%, severe in 33% and very severe in 6% of respondents. Other responses included: symptoms worse in the evening in 81%; quality of life significantly impaired in 44%; normal life not possible 7%; stress induces acute episodes 44%; other urticarial forms coexist 21%; allergy coexist 48%. A family history was reported in 14%. Almost all patients were taking H1 -anti-histamines, 49% getting marked improvement and 23% becoming symptoms free. LIMITATIONS: It is a survey only of patient opinions. CONCLUSIONS: This questionnaire survey confirmed that symptomatic dermographism is a debilitating condition with profound effects on quality of life but its underlying cause and disease mechanisms remain obscure.
BACKGROUND: Symptomatic dermographism is the most common form of physical urticaria with a prevalence of 2-5%. However, its clinical picture has rarely been described. OBJECTIVE: To understand more of patients' views about the practical aspects of their condition, its cause and impact on quality of life. METHODS: Ninety-one of 150 patients with symptomatic dermographism from our specialist urticaria clinic completed a 38-question questionnaire sent them by mail. RESULTS: The mean duration of disease was 6¼ years. In most patients, the condition was continuous, but ~25% had prolonged symptom-free phases. Severity was evaluated as moderate in 45%, severe in 33% and very severe in 6% of respondents. Other responses included: symptoms worse in the evening in 81%; quality of life significantly impaired in 44%; normal life not possible 7%; stress induces acute episodes 44%; other urticarial forms coexist 21%; allergy coexist 48%. A family history was reported in 14%. Almost all patients were taking H1 -anti-histamines, 49% getting marked improvement and 23% becoming symptoms free. LIMITATIONS: It is a survey only of patient opinions. CONCLUSIONS: This questionnaire survey confirmed that symptomatic dermographism is a debilitating condition with profound effects on quality of life but its underlying cause and disease mechanisms remain obscure.
Authors: Pavel Kolkhir; Ana M Giménez-Arnau; Kanokvalai Kulthanan; Jonny Peter; Martin Metz; Marcus Maurer Journal: Nat Rev Dis Primers Date: 2022-09-15 Impact factor: 65.038
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: Mario Sánchez-Borges; Ignacio J Ansotegui; Ilaria Baiardini; Jonathan Bernstein; Giorgio Walter Canonica; Motohiro Ebisawa; Maximiliano Gomez; Sandra Nora Gonzalez-Diaz; Bryan Martin; Mário Morais-Almeida; Jose Antonio Ortega Martell Journal: World Allergy Organ J Date: 2021-06-01 Impact factor: 4.084