URTICÁRIA CRÓNICA: NOVAS PERSPECTIVAS TERAPÊUTICAS.

Chronic urticaria is a skin disorder with a very high impact on patients' quality of life. It has a prevalence between 7,8 and 22,3% with a higher incidence in women between 20 and 40 years old. The intensity of the itch, the anxiety caused by its recurrent nature and also the incapacity caused by the unpredictable exacerbations are among the factors that mostly impact patient's quality of life. Being a mast cell-driven disease, the most recent recommendations of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), the EU-funded network of excellence, the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA2LEN), the European Dermatology Forum (EDF), and the World Allergy Organization (WAO) suggest a symptomatic treatment for chronic urticaria, with very limited routine diagnostic measures being recommended. Non-sedating anti-histamines H1 (AHH1ns), in approved dose, are recommended as first line of treatment followed by the utilization of omalizumab, cyclosporine A or montelukast as add-on treatment in patients that do not respond to high doses AHH1ns. The treatment must continue until the patient is symptoms free, in the most possible safe manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]