Management (Table 2)
SgAHs were the predominant management strategy used in 94.2% of patients. Diphenhydramine was used during exacerbations in 30.8% of patients. A minority of patients (5.8%) required short-term (up to one week) oral corticosteroids for treating exacerbations. Omalizumab was used by one (1.9%) patient while also taking desloratadine. Finally, three patients (5.8%) managed their symptoms without any medication by avoiding cold triggers.
The UCT was completed by 48 patients at study entry or at follow-up. Of patients managed with sgAHs, 56.8% had well-controlled UCT scores. When adjusting for age and sex, concomitant CSU was negatively associated with well-controlled disease on sgAHs (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=0.69 [95%CI: 0.53, 0.92], Table 3). All patients managed by cold avoidance alone had well-controlled UCT scores. Finally, the patient managed with omalizumab and desloratadine for a period of two years did not have a well-controlled score.