Solar urticaria.

Abstract

Solar urticaria is a rare IgE-mediated and chromophore-dependent photodermatosis. In some cases, these chromophores, designated as "serum factor", may be detected in serum or plasma. To date, the exact pathogenesis of solar urticaria has, however, not been elucidated. Typical clinical features include the onset of urticarial lesions within a few minutes after light exposure, which already raises diagnostic suspicion. The most common triggers are UVA and visible light. Determination of the action spectrum as well as the minimal urticarial dose (MDU) is diagnostically crucial. Other photodermatoses such as polymorphic light eruption or porphyrias (especially erythropoietic protoporphyria) have to be ruled out. Apart from sunlight avoidance, which is always required, further therapeutic options used include nonsedating antihistamines as well as light hardening. Newer treatment modalities such as plasmapheresis or the anti-IgE antibody omalizumab are reserved for severe, recalcitrant forms of solar urticaria.

• Authors: Steven Goetze, Peter Elsner
• Journal: Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft = Journal of the German Society of Dermatology : JDDG (J Dtsch Dermatol Ges) Vol. 13 Issue 12 Pg. 1250-3 (Dec 2015) ISSN: 1610-0387 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 26612794 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: © 2015 Deutsche Dermatologische Gesellschaft (DDG). Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Chemical References

• Anti-Allergic Agents
• Histamine Antagonists
• Omalizumab

Topics

• Anti-Allergic Agents (administration & dosage)
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Histamine Antagonists (administration & dosage)
• Humans
• Omalizumab (administration & dosage)
• Plasmapheresis (methods)
• Sunlight (adverse effects)
• Urticaria (diagnosis, etiology, prevention & control)