A major trigger of chronic urticaria/hives is due to autoimmune cause. Currently there are thought to be 2 types of autoimmune triggers.
- The IgE antibody on the skin mast cells that senses and reacts to an antigen created by your own body and that triggers release of histamine leading to urticaria.
- An antibody created by your own body stimulates the skin mast cells to release histamine leading to urticaria.
There have been a few studies of using the serum of these patients suffering from chronic urticaria and then performing a self skin test by injecting a small amount the person’s serum under the skin. Lo and behold! the serum will produce the same urticaria/hive reaction at the area of injection.
Other studies have looked at using an unusual method of self injecting a larger amount of the serum into the individual. Sort of “fighting fire with fire”, a form of “self immunotherapy” towards these autoimmune triggers.
The data has been quite promising in that the patients that were resistant to antihistamine treatment showed response with some achieving complete remission. The study indicated that you will only see results beginning at the 8th treatment. This treatment can be considered in patients that see no improvement on antihistamines and does not want to be on immune modulation medications and/or unable to be on Biologic medications.
It is important to see a qualified Allergist for treatment for your chronic urticaria. At the AI Clinic, we have a protocol for using self injection of serum for patients with uncontrolled urticaria with good success rates.
