SAN ANTONIO -- Treatment of chronic urticaria can be challenging, but recent findings regarding the condition may help improve outcomes, Dr. Aniko Kobza Black reported at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

One new advance that she discussed is the usefulness of the autologous serum skin test (ASST) in screening for autoimmune urticaria.

It is important to keep in mind, however, that positivity on the ASST can persist even after clearing in cases of autoimmune urticaria. With other types of urticaria, the ASST will become negative as the condition improves and resolves, she said.

Another recent finding is the association between a positive ...