Urticaria: A comprehensive review Treatment of chronic urticaria, special populations, and disease outcomes

Learning objectives After completing this learning activity, participants should be able to develop an initial treatment plan for a patient with acute or chronic urticaria; identify second-, third-, and fourthline treatment options when initial treatments are ineffective; discuss outcomes of the disease; and describe possible disease course with patients. Disclosures Editors The editors involved with this CME activity and all content validation/peer reviewers of the journal-based CME activity have reported no relevant financial relationships with commercial interest(s). Authors The authors involved with this journal-based CME activity have reported no relevant financial relationships with commercial interest(s). Planners The planners involved with this journal-based CME activity have reported no relevant financial relationships with commercial interest(s). The editorial and education staff involved with this journal-based CME activity have reported no relevant financial relationships with commercial interest(s). Second-generation antihistamines are considered first-line agents in the treatment of chronic urticaria because of their safety and efficacy profile. Some patients require higher doses of H-1 antihistamines alone or in combination with other classes of medications, including H-2 antihistamines, leukotriene receptor antagonists, or first-generation H-1 antihistamines. One major therapeutic advance has been omalizumab, a humanized monoclonal antieimmunoglobulin E that was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of chronic urticaria that is unresponsive to H-1 antagonists. In addition, the second article in this continuing medical education series outlines several evidence-based alternative treatments for urticaria and the differences in recommendations between 2 major consensus groups (the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology/World Allergy Organization and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology/American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Joint Task Force).