Cold Urticaria. Characterizing the Population From an Urticaria Outpatient Clinic

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Dermatology
• Allergy

Background:

• Cold Urticaria (ColdU) is a chronic inducible urticaria triggered by cold exposure.
• Reactions range from localized wheals to severe systemic events.
• Characterizing ColdU patient populations is crucial for understanding disease heterogeneity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize Cold Urticaria cases in a Portuguese patient cohort.
• To investigate the role of cold provocation tests and temperature thresholds in disease management.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 52 ColdU patients diagnosed before October 2020.
• Analysis of clinical files, including cold provocation tests and temperature thresholds (TempTest® 4.0).
• Evaluation of treatment responses to antihistamines and omalizumab.

Main Results:

• The study included 52 patients (40 female, median age 35).
• All cases were acquired ColdU, with 9 classified as atypical due to negative cold provocation tests.
• Lower temperature thresholds correlated with better control on standard antihistamine dosages (p<0.01).

Conclusions:

• Cold Urticaria is a heterogeneous condition with potential for severe outcomes.
• Cold provocation tests and threshold assessments aid in identifying severity and guiding treatment.
• Effective management strategies are essential for patients with ColdU.