Effet de l'arrêt des corticoïdes au cours de l'urticaire chronique (étude prospective de 17 malades)

Our study shows that most cases of chronic urticaria are managed without oral steroids since inefficacy of anti-H1 drugs is generally only temporary. After withdrawal of oral steroids, a short increase in chronic urticaria was frequently observed with constant remission from extracutaneous signs and/or histological evidence of vasculitis. We suggest an active role of oral steroids in the failure of anti-H1 therapy. Moreover, oral steroids do not seem to confer any benefits in delayed pressure urticaria, and pending further prospective controlled studies, we recommend that these drugs be prescribed sparingly in chronic urticaria.