Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: What is already known about this topic?Cholinergic urticaria (CholU) involves hives triggered by sweating activities.The CholU Activity Score is used to assess disease activity but has not yet been validated.No other score specifically addresses elicitors of the disease.What does this article add to our knowledge?The article presents the first validated patient-reported outcome measure for assessing CholU disease activity, incorporating triggers of the disease and enhancing the reliability and accuracy of evaluation in clinical and research settings.How does this study impact current management guidelines?This study introduces a validated tool for assessing CholU disease activity, incorporating disease triggers.This enhances diagnostic accuracy and guides personalized treatment strategies, potentially updating and improving current management guidelines for CholU.BACKGROUND: In cholinergic urticaria (CholU), itchy wheal and flare-type skin reactions are triggered by sweat-inducing activities.The CholU activity score (CholUAS) is used to assess disease activity but has not yet been validated.The aim of the study was to validate the CholUAS, develop an English version, and provide instructions for scoring.METHODS: Cognitive debriefing of CholUAS was performed.Patients with CholU (n [ 75) used the CholUAS on 7 consecutive days, underwent provocation testing, completed additional anchor instrument questionnaires including global evaluation tools, and established quality of life instruments.A scoring protocol for the calculation of the weekly CholUAS, the CholUAS7, was developed.The CholUAS7 was tested for validity, reliability, and influencing factors.An English version of the CholUAS was developed.RESULTS: The final CholUAS contains 3 questions that are used for scoring as well as 1 global question.The weekly CholUAS, CholUAS7, showed excellent test-retest reliability and good correlations with anchor instruments.Statistical analysis showed no significant influence of age or duration of disease on Chol-UAS7 results.CONCLUSION: The validated CholUAS is ready for use in clinical trials and routine clinical practice.
Authors: Pia Schnarkowski, Pascale Salameh, Eva Grekowitz, Dorothea Terhorst-Molawi, Marcus Maurer, Karsten Weller, Sabine Altrichter
Institutions: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology, Freie Universität Berlin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, University of Nicosia, Institut National de Santé Publique, d'Épidémiologie Clinique et de Toxicologie-Liban, Lebanese American University, Johannes Kepler University of Linz, Kepler Universitätsklinikum
Language: English
Subfield: Rheumatology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,000
Funders: Amgen, AstraZeneca, Sanofi, Celldex Therapeutics, Argenx
OpenAlex ID: W4403458041