Autologous serum therapy: a viable option for chronic spontaneous urticaria

Authors

  • Darshana Sundaresh Department of DVL, Meenakshi Medical College and Research Institute, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, India
  • S. Kumaravel Department of DVL, Meenakshi Medical College and Research Institute, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, India
  • M. Anbumalar Department of DVL, Meenakshi Medical College and Research Institute, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/issn.2455-4529.IntJResDermatol20205598

Keywords:

Chronic urticaria, Autologous serum skin test, Autologous serum therapy, Total severity score

Abstract

Background: Chronic urticaria (CU) is a common disorder causing decrease in quality of life of patients with associated morbidity, chronic dependence on medications and a huge pill burden. CU is multifactorial and a subset of patients have an autoimmune background for their condition which is confirmed by a positive skin reaction to ASST. This study compared the efficacy of Autologous serum therapy in both ASST positive and ASST negative patients by evaluating total severity score (TSS).

Methods: This quasi experimental study was conducted on fifty patients were selected randomly and withdrawn from antihistaminic use. ASST was done for all patients and AST was administered to all patients in both groups for 9 weeks. The patients were followed up at 4 weeks and 12 weeks after completion of AST. TSS measurements were used as baseline and recorded weekly after each injections till 9 weeks then 4th and 12th week after completion of therapy.

Results: 50 patients were the study population. The median age was 34.7 years with a female predominance. 23 patients were ASST positive and the rest were negative. Following treatment, ASST positive group had 69% improvement in TSS and ASST negative group had 61.5% improvement in TSS. There was statistically significant differences following treatment compared to baseline and between the two groups.

Conclusions: AST as an adjunctive treatment for chronic urticaria shows promise for patients irrespective of ASST positivity and is more effective for ASST positive patients.

References

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Bajaj AK, Saraswat A, Upadhyay A, Damisetty R, Dhar S. Autologous serum therapy in chronic urticaria: Old wine in a new bottle. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2008;74:109-13.

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Vohra S, Sharma NL, Mahajan VK, Shanker V. Clinicoepidemiologic features of chronic urticaria in patients having positive versus negative autologous serum skin test: A study of 100 Indian patients. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology. 2011;77(2):156.

Vikramkumar AG, Kuruvila S, Ganguly S. Autologous serum skin test as an indicator of chronic autoimmune urticaria in a tertiary care hospital in South India. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2014;5:2.

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Published

2020-12-24

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Original Research Articles