The predictive factors for remission of chronic spontaneous urticaria in childhood: Outcome from a prospective study

Abstract

BackgroundThere are few studies in children on the natural course of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) because of its relative infrequency in childhood. ObjectiveTo estimate the rate of remission and evaluate the prognostic factors in children with CSU. MethodA total of 52 children with CSU were prospectively followed over a period of three years. ResultsThe remission rates at 12 months and 36 months were 32.7% and 48.1%. The mean duration of disease at the first visit in the non-remission group was higher than in the remission group at the end of the study (P=0.016). The remission rate of the patients who had been treated by standard dose antihistamine was higher than that of the patients who had been treated with the high-dose antihistamine and combination medications (P=0.004, P<0.001). The treatment steps were independent prognostic factors for remission by logistic regression analysis. ConclusionOur study indicates that urticaria controlled by a standard dose of antihistamine can predict a good prognosis independently from disease duration at first visit.