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This article discusses a study that aimed to identify potential biomarkers for chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), a skin disease characterized by severe itching. The researchers collected blood samples from 118 CSU patients and analyzed the plasma proteomics to identify associations with key disease characteristics. They found that certain plasma proteins were significantly associated with clinical traits such as sex, positive basophil histamine release assay (BHRA), angioedema, and concomitant chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU). However, these proteins were not associated with the response to omalizumab treatment, which is commonly used as a second-line treatment for CSU. The findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying CSU and may contribute to personalized management of the disease. The document is a list of acknowledgements and conflict of interest statements for the study, with no conflicts of interest reported by the authors. Two graphs labeled "Data S1" and "Data S2" are included. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Chronic urticaria (CU) is characterized by transient wheals and angioedema, which are often not present when patients see their treating physician. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of smartphone photographs captured by patients prior to their first visit at an urticaria outpatient clinic. Methods: A survey regarding the quality and utility of smartphone photographs of urticarial skin lesions in patients with CU attending the outpatient clinic for the first time was conducted. Up to three random patient-selected photographs of skin lesions were evaluated by a physician. Results: Of 148 patients, 118 (79.7%) had taken photographs of their skin lesions prior to the consultation, and 75% took photographs with the intention of presenting it to their physician. The photographs were of wheals in 90% of the cases and angioedema in 8%. In total, 72% of the smartphone photographs had the skin lesion in focus, 64% had good resolution, and 48% had good lighting. Only 9% of the smartphone photographs were blurred, 10% had bad lighting, 4% had bad resolution, and 8% did not have the lesion in focus. Moreover, 86% of the smartphone photographs were found to be useful for clinical evaluation. At least one photograph of good/very good quality was presented by 86% of the patients, and 97% had at least one photograph that was useful for clinical evaluation. Conclusion: Patients with CU often take smartphone photographs of their skin lesions on their own initiative prior to their first consultation to present the photographs to their physician. These smartphone photographs are very often of good quality and suitable for clinical evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the clinical applicability of the urticaria control test (UCT) in patients with chronic urticaria (CU). The UCT is a validated questionnaire used to assess disease control in patients with CU. The study validates and extends previous findings by examining a cohort of 622 adult and pediatric patients with different subtypes of CU. The results show that all four questions in the UCT are relevant, with Q1 being particularly predictive for the total score in adult patients and those with pure chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), while Q3 is more relevant in children and patients with combined CSU and chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU). The UCT score also correlates with other patient-reported outcomes (PROs), but not with biochemical markers. Overall, the study highlights the potential of the UCT as a complementary assessment tool for disease control in patients with CU. [Extracted from the article]

During the 12-week treatment period, a total of five patients (21.7%) reported at least one suspected side effect of omalizumab; headache (2 patients), fatigue (2 patients), weight gain (2 patients) and dry mouth (2 patients). Keywords: body mass index; chronic urticaria; IgE; omalizumab; pharmacokinetics EN body mass index chronic urticaria IgE omalizumab pharmacokinetics 715 718 4 04/29/22 20220501 NES 220501 Key Messages Omalizumab (anti-IgE) is effective and safe for treating antihistaminerefractory chronic spontaneous urticaria. Omalizumab serum levels predict treatment outcomes in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria: A three-month prospective study. [Extracted from the article]

Chronic urticaria (CU) is an itching skin disease characterized by wheals and/or angioedema for more than 6 weeks. The course of symptoms in CU is highly unpredictable and symptom control can be challenging despite availability of effective treatment options for antihistamine-refractory patients. Thereafter, the questionnaire was administered consecutively to all newly referred patients with onset of CU within the past 3 years from a tertiary dermatological referral centre for CU. [Extracted from the article]

We present a case report of a 64-year old female patient with rheumatoid arthritis and chronic spontaneous urticaria. She was treated with a combination of etanercept and omalizumab with good results and no adverse effects. In selected patients with severe inflammatory disease activity it is worth considering combined biologic therapy. However, treatment should be closely monitored as short-term and long-term side effects are not properly elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]