A Comparative Study of Autologous Serum Therapy and Histaglobulin in Chronic Urticaria: Underutilized Modalities Revisited!

Abstract

Aim and Objective: To assess and compare effectiveness of autologous serum therapy and histaglobulin in the treatment of chronic urticaria. Materials and Methods: All chronic urticaria patients attending skin Out Patient Department were recruited in the study after informed consent and consideration of the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Urticaria Activity Score (UAS) was assessed after which Autologous Serum Skin Test (ASST) was done. ASST positive patients were divided into two groups, Group A and B and were given autologous serum therapy (AST) and histaglobulin, respectively, whereas ASST negative patients were divided into Group C and Group D and were given AST and histaglobulin, respectively, once a week for 8 consecutive weeks. Levocetrizine 5 mg was administered throughout the study period on an on-demand basis. Urticaria activity score (UAS) was assessed every week. Results: AST and histaglobulin showed considerable improvement in UAS irrespective of the ASST status. In addition, patients showed a marked reduction in the daily intake of antihistamines by the end of the study. Conclusion: Immunotherapies such as autologous serum therapy and histaglobulin are extremely feasible with minimal to no side effects. Our study highlights the effectiveness of both AST and histaglobulin irrespective of ASST status, and their role in improving the quality of life by reducing the intake of daily antihistamines. Thus, in spite of being underutilized, autologous serum therapy and histaglobulin should be considered as better alternatives among the armamentarium of treatment options already available for chronic urticaria.

Keywords

• autologous serum skin test
• autologous serum therapy
• chronic urticaria
• histaglobulin