WAO position paper
Diagnosis and treatment of urticaria and angioedema: a worldwide perspective
1 Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Centro Médico-Docente La Trinidad, Caracas, Venezuela
2 Ambulatorio di Allergologia, Clinica San Carlo, Paderno-Dugnano, Milan, Italy
3 Department of Allergy and Immunology, Hospital Quirón Bizkaia, Bilbao, Spain
4 Allergy and Respiratory Disease Clinic, University of Genova, Ospedale S.Martino di Genova, Genoa, Italy
5 Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Immunology/Allergy Section University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
6 Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Spokane, WA
7 Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
8 Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine and Allergy and Immunology, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
9 Department of Allergy and Immunology, University of Western Sydney and Campbelltown Hospital, Sydney, Australia
10 Universitätsmedizin Berlin. Allergie-Centrum-Charité, Berlin, Germany
11 Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea
12 Allergy Diagnostic & Clinical Research Unit, University of Cape Town Lung Institute, Groote Schuur, South Africa
13 Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
14 Immunology Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
15 U.O. Allergologia e Immunologia Clinica, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
World Allergy Organization Journal 2012, 5:125-147 doi:10.1097/WOX.0b013e3182758d6c
Published: 15 November 2012Abstract
Urticaria and angioedema are common clinical conditions representing a major concern for physicians and patients alike. The World Allergy Organization (WAO), recognizing the importance of these diseases, has contributed to previous guidelines for the diagnosis and management of urticaria. The Scientific and Clinical Issues Council of WAO proposed the development of this global Position Paper to further enhance the clinical management of these disorders through the participation of renowned experts from all WAO regions of the world. Sections on definition and classification, prevalence, etiology and pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis are based on the best scientific evidence presently available. Additional sections devoted to urticaria and angioedema in children and pregnant women, quality of life and patient-reported outcomes, and physical urticarias have been incorporated into this document. It is expected that this article will supplement recent international guidelines with the contribution of an expert panel designated by the WAO, increasing awareness of the importance of urticaria and angioedema in medical practice and will become a useful source of information for optimum patient management worldwide.
