Living with SD: from Triggers to Future Therapies
All Things Urticaria – Learning about urticaria with Prof. Dr. Torsten ZuberbierShow Notes
In this episode, Sophia Neisinger welcomes Dr. Melba Muñoz, head of the Chronic Inducible Urticaria Program in Berlin, to discuss symptomatic dermographism (SD), the most common form of inducible urticaria.
They discuss: 🔹 What exactly is symptomatic dermographism, and why is it so burdensome for patients? 🔹 How common is SD, and what did the latest international prevalence study reveal? 🔹 How can tools like the FricTest help diagnose and assess SD? 🔹 Which treatments are available today—and which exciting therapies are on the horizon?
Dr. Muñoz shares insights on the challenges SD patients face in daily life, the importance of proper diagnosis, and why new therapies in clinical trials may soon change the landscape of treatment. She also highlights the need for awareness among both physicians and patients to reduce diagnostic delays and improve care. Join us for this engaging conversation on how better diagnostics, treatment options, and awareness can transform the lives of SD patients.
Key Learnings from the Episode Definition: Symptomatic dermographism is a form of inducible urticaria where scratching or stroking on the skin leads to wheals, redness, and itch. Prevalence: International data suggest approximately 4% of the population may be affected, making it surprisingly common. Impact: Even daily activities like wearing clothes or combing hair can trigger symptoms, causing significant quality-of-life impairment. Diagnosis: The FricTest is a standardized tool to diagnose and measure SD activity, more reliable than ad-hoc methods like using a pen. Overlap: Around 30–40% of SD patients also present with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). Treatment today: Only antihistamines are licensed; omalizumab may be used off-label (or in-label if CSU is present). Future therapies: Anti-KIT antibodies (barzolvolimab, briquilumab), oral KIT inhibitors, and BTK inhibitors (remibrutinib) show great promise. Diagnostic delays: Many SD patients experience long delays, partly due to lack of awareness and the perception that symptoms are "normal." Patient-reported tools: The Urticaria Control Test (UCT) and the new SD-Qual scale are validated instruments for assessing disease control and quality of life. Awareness: Education for general practitioners and patients is key, as many still use antihistamines incorrectly (on demand instead of regularly).
Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Symptomatic Demographism 02:53 Understanding Symptomatic Demographism 04:49 Prevalence and Diagnosis of SD 06:54 Diagnostic Tools for SD 09:16 Treatment Options for SD 13:52 Challenges in Diagnosis and Awareness 18:40 Patient-Reported Outcomes and Future Directions
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More from All Things Urticaria – Learning about urticaria with Prof. Dr. Torsten Zuberbier
In this episode of the UCARE Global Allergy and Asthma Excellence Network podcast on Urticaria, Prof. Torsten Zuberbier speaks with Prof. Angelo Valerio Marzano from Milan about urticarial vasculitis and its challenging differential diagnoses. They explore how clinicians can distinguish urticarial vasculitis from chronic urticaria and other dermatological or systemic conditions and discuss practical approaches to diagnosis and treatment.
In this episode of the Global Allergy and Asthma Excellence Network UCARE Podcast on Urticaria, Prof. Torsten Zuberbier speaks with Prof. Marta Ferrer from Spain about an important question: Is chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) only a skin disease, or is it a systemic inflammatory condition? Together, they discuss emerging evidence showing that urticaria affects far more than the skin and how this should influence patient management.
In this episode of the UCARE Global Allergy and Asthma Excellence Network (Global Allergy and Asthma Excellence Network) podcast on Urticaria, Prof. Torsten Zuberbier speaks with Prof. Akio Tanaka from Hiroshima University, Japan, about an important question many patients ask: how long will chronic urticaria last, and can treatment influence the course of the disease? They discuss disease modification, symptom control, and future research directions in urticaria management.
In this episode of the UCARE GA²LEN (Global Allergy and Asthma Excellence Network) podcast on Urticaria, Prof. Torsten Zuberbier and Prof. Hermenio Lima discuss the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine and how it may influence urticaria care, research, and patient management in the future.
In this episode of the UCARE GA²LEN (Global Allergy and Asthma Excellence Network) podcast on Urticaria, Prof. Torsten Zuberbier and Prof. Maia Gotua discuss the role of infections in acute and chronic urticaria. They explore how infections can trigger, mimic, or worsen symptoms—and why careful clinical evaluation is key.