Dermographism Urticaria Medication

  • Author: Simone Laube, MD, MRCP; Chief Editor: Dirk M Elston, MD   more...
 
Updated: Aug 5, 2011
 

Medication Summary

The goals of pharmacotherapy are to reduce morbidity and to prevent complications.

Next

Antihistamines

Class Summary

Act by competitive inhibition of histamine at the H1 receptor, H2 receptor, or both. This mediates wheal and flare reactions, bronchial constriction, mucus secretion, smooth muscle contraction, edema, hypotension, CNS depression, and cardiac arrhythmias.

View full drug information

Cetirizine (Zyrtec, Zyrtec Chewable Tablets)

 

Forms complex with histamine for H1-receptor sites in blood vessels, GI tract, and respiratory tract.

View full drug information

Loratadine (Claritin)

 

Selectively inhibits peripheral histamine H1 receptors.

View full drug information

Desloratadine (Clarinex)

 

Long-acting tricyclic histamine antagonist selective for H1 receptor. Relieves nasal congestion and systemic effects of seasonal allergy. Major metabolite of loratadine, which, after ingestion, is metabolized extensively to active metabolite 3-hydroxydesloratadine.

Acrivastine (Semprex)

 

Competes with histamine for H1 receptors on GI tract, blood vessels, and respiratory tract, reducing hypersensitivity reactions.

View full drug information

Fexofenadine (Allegra)

 

Competes with histamine for H1 receptors on GI tract, blood vessels, and respiratory tract, reducing hypersensitivity reactions. Does not sedate.

View full drug information

Hydroxyzine (Atarax, Vistaril, Vistazine)

 

Sedative antihistamine that is also anxiolytic. Antagonizes H1 receptors in periphery. May suppress histamine activity in subcortical region of CNS.

Previous
Proceed to Follow-up
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Simone Laube, MD, MRCP  Consulting Staff, Department of Dermatology, Borders General Hospital, Melrose and Western General Hospital

Simone Laube, MD, MRCP is a member of the following medical societies: British Association of Dermatologists

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Shyam Verma, MBBS, DVD, FAAD  Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Virginia, State University of New York at Stonybrook, Penn State University

Shyam Verma, MBBS, DVD, FAAD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Richard P Vinson, MD  Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L Foster School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Mountain View Dermatology, PA

Richard P Vinson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Military Dermatologists, Texas Dermatological Society, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Paul Krusinski, MD  Director of Dermatology, Fletcher Allen Health Care; Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Vermont College of Medicine

Paul Krusinski, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Catherine M Quirk, MD  Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania

Catherine M Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD  Director, Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology, New York

Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgments

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous author, Elsbeth Young, MD, FRCP, to the development and writing of this article.

References

  1. Dinc A, Karaayvaz M, Caliskaner AZ, Pay S, Erdem H, Turan M. Dermographism and atopy in patients with Behcet's disease. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. Nov-Dec 2000;10(6):368-71. [Medline].

  2. Martorell A, Sanz J, Ortiz M, Julve N, Cerda JC, Ferriols E. Prevalence of dermographism in children. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. May-Jun 2000;10(3):166-9. [Medline].

  3. Lambiris A, Greaves MW. Dyspareunia and vulvodynia: unrecognised manifestations of symptomatic dermographism. Lancet. Jan 4 1997;349(9044):28. [Medline].

  4. Matthews CN, Warin RP. Cold urticaria and cold precipitated dermographism. Br J Dermatol. Jan 1970;82:91. [Medline].

  5. Jedele KB, Michels VV. Familial dermographism. Am J Med Genet. May 1 1991;39(2):201-3. [Medline].

  6. Grimm V, Mempel M, Ring J, Abeck D. Congenital symptomatic dermographism as the first symptom of mastocytosis. Br J Dermatol. Nov 2000;143(5):1109. [Medline].

  7. Taskapan O, Harmanyeri Y. Evaluation of patients with symptomatic dermographism. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. Jan 2006;20(1):58-62. [Medline].

  8. Wallengren J, Isaksson A. Urticarial Dermographism: Clinical features and response to psychosocial stress. Acta Derm Venereol. 2007;87:493-8. [Medline].

  9. Wu JJ, Huang DB, Murase JE, Weinstein GD. Dermographism secondary to trauma from a coral reef. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. Nov 2006;20:1337-8. [Medline].

  10. Rahim KF, Dawe RS. Dermatomyositis presenting with symptomatic dermographism and raised troponin T: a case report. Journal of Medical Case Reports. July 2009;3:7319. [Medline]. [Full Text].

  11. Sharpe GR, Shuster S. In dermographic urticaria H2 receptor antagonists have a small but therapeutically irrelevant additional effect compared with H1 antagonists alone. Br J Dermatol. Nov 1993;129(5):575-9. [Medline].

  12. Borzova E, Rutherford A, Konstantinou GN, Leslie KS, Grattan CE. Narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy is beneficial in antihistamine-resistant symptomatic dermographism: A pilot study. J Am Acad Dermatol. Sept 2008;59:752-7. [Medline].

  13. Metz M, Altrichter S, Ardelean E, at al. Anti-Immunoglobulin E Treatment of Patients with Recalcitrant Physical Urticaria. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2011;154:177-180. [Medline].

  14. van der Valk PG, Moret G, Kiemeney LA. The natural history of chronic urticaria and angioedema in patients visiting a tertiary referral centre. Br J Dermatol. Jan 2002;146(1):110-3. [Medline].

  15. Casale TB, Sampson HA, Hanifin J, et al. Guide to physical urticarias. J Allergy Clin Immunol. Nov 1988;82(5 Pt 1):758-63. [Medline].

  16. Champion RH. Urticaria: then and now. Br J Dermatol. Oct 1988;119(4):427-36. [Medline].

  17. Giam YC, Rajan VS. An approach to urticaria. Ann Acad Med Singapore. Jan 1983;12(1):74-80. [Medline].

  18. Grattan CEH, Kobza Black A. Urticaria and mastocytosis. In: Burns DA, Breathnach SM, Cox N, Griffiths C, eds. Rook's Textbook of Dermatology. Vol 3. 7th ed. London, England: Blackwell Science; 2004:47.1-47.37.

  19. Jorizzo JL, Smith EB. The physical urticarias. An update and review. Arch Dermatol. Mar 1982;118(3):194-201. [Medline].

  20. Kirby JD, Matthews CN, James J, Duncan EH, Warin RP. The incidence and other aspects of factitious wealing (dermographism). Br J Dermatol. Oct 1971;85(4):331-5. [Medline].

  21. Kobza Black A. The physical urticarias. In: Champion RH, Greaves MW, Kobza Black A, Pye RJ, eds. The Urticarias. Edinburgh, Scotland: Churchill Livingstone; 1985:168-90.

  22. Nettis E, Pannofino A, D'Aprile C, Ferrannini A, Tursi A. Clinical and aetiological aspects in urticaria and angio-oedema. Br J Dermatol. Mar 2003;148(3):501-6. [Medline].

  23. Wong RC, Fairley JA, Ellis CN. Dermographism: a review. J Am Acad Dermatol. Oct 1984;11(4 Pt 1):643-52. [Medline].

 
Previous
Next
 
 
 
 
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2012 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

DISCLAIMER: The content of this Website is not influenced by sponsors. The site is designed primarily for use by qualified physicians and other medical professionals. The information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider. The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only. In no way should it be considered as offering medical advice. Please check with a physician if you suspect you are ill.