0000000000068963
AUTHOR
G. Malara
Omalizumab for the treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria in clinical practice
Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a skin disease that predominantly affects adults, especially women aged 20 to 40 years, and is characterized by the recurrent appearance of localized or widespread wheals, angioedema or both, without apparent external trigger. 1 , 2 Severe CSU has a detrimental effect on the quality of life and is a frequent cause of absenteeism from school and work. [3] The pathogenesis of CSU is not well understood, and it appears to have an autoimmune cause in approximately one-third of patients. [4] Guidelines for the management of CSU recommend the use of second-generation antihistamines, with the addition of leukotriene receptor antagonists, cyclosporine, or omal…
HIDRAdisk: validation of an innovative visual tool to assess the burden of hidradenitis suppurativa
Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, relapsing, inflammatory skin disease characterized by painful inflamed nodules, recurrent abscesses and fistulas located in apocrine gland–bearing body sites. The negative impact of HS on patient's quality of life (QoL) has been reported to be greater than other dermatologic conditions as psoriasis and atopic eczema, and its improvement is an important goal in disease management. Nowadays, there are no specific validated QoL instruments available for HS and generic dermatologic questionnaires are used. Objective: The objective of this study was to demonstrate the validity, reliability and responsiveness of HIDRAdisk, a new innovative t…
Improving the disease awareness: how a communication campaign brings hidradenitis suppurativa to the light
Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa is an inflammatory skin disease that presents a recurrence of painful and suppurating lesions in the apocrine gland-bearing regions, with a strong impact on the patients’ life quality. Despite its peculiar presentation, early forms are often underestimated by patients and this would inevitably result in late diagnosis and delayed therapy. Objectives: Improved communication around the disease could facilitate self-diagnosis and a quicker response from healthcare practitioners, especially in this moment when we dispose of effective treatment against this disease. Methods: A HS awareness campaign was conducted for 2 years with the help of a media agency and…