Randomized double-blind study of cyclosporin in chronic ‘idiopathic’ urticaria

Background Histamine-releasing activity (HRA) is detectable in up to 50% of patients with chronic ordinary urticaria. Objectives To determine the effect of cyclosporin on clinical features and HRA in patients with chronic urticaria. Methods Thirty patients with severe unremitting disease, responding poorly to antihistamines and showing a positive autologous serum skin test (ASST) as a marker of HRA, were randomized to 4 mg kg−1 daily of cyclosporin (Sandimmun®, n = 20) or placebo (n = 10) for 4 weeks. Non-responders were offered open-label cyclosporin for 4 weeks. All were followed for up to 20 weeks or until clinical relapse; all took cetirizine 20 mg daily throughout the study. The primary measure of efficacy was a daily urticaria activity score (UAS) of weal numbers and itch (maximum score 42 per week). A positive response was defined as a reduction to < 25% of baseline weekly UAS and relapse as a return to > 75%. The effect of cyclosporin on serum HRA was assessed by in vitro basophil histamine release assays and ASSTs before and after treatment. Results Twenty-nine patients (19 active, 10 controls) completed the randomized trial medication. Eight of 19 on active treatment but none on placebo had responded at 4 weeks (P < 0·05). Three others on active drug met the criterion for response at 2 weeks but not at 4 weeks. Mean reduction in UAS between weeks 0 and 4 was 12·7 (95% confidence interval, CI 6·6–18·8) for active and 2·3 (95% CI − 3·3–7·9) for placebo (P = 0·005). Seventeen non-responders (seven randomized to active and 10 to placebo) chose open-label cyclosporin and 11 responded after 4 weeks. Six of the eight randomized active drug responders relapsed within 6 weeks. Of the 19 responders to randomized and open-label cyclosporin, five (26%) had not relapsed by the study end-point. Mean in vitro serum HRA fell from 36% (95% CI 22–49%) to 5% (95% CI 1–8%) after cyclosporin treatment (n = 11, P < 0·0001). The ASST response to post-treatment serum was also reduced (P < 0·05). Conclusions This study shows that cyclosporin is effective for chronic urticaria and provides further evidence for a role of histamine-releasing autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of this chronic ‘idiopathic’ disease.