Allergic diseases of the skin and drug allergies – 2021. Efficacy of montelukast as add-on therapy in patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria

Methods Patients who received montelukast for CIU between 2008-2011 (4-year period) were retrospectively identified from clinic letters. Clinical features of duration of urticaria, medication use, autoimmunity and laboratory investigations that included basopenia and mean platelet volume on full blood count, complement levels, specific IgE, autoimmune serology [antinuclear antibody (ANA), thyroid peroxidase antibodies, serum histamine releasing antibody (using donor basophils, positive >18.5%)] were collected and analysed. The primary end point was adequate control of urticaria without additional therapy. Patients with features of urticarial vasculitis and those who required corticosteroids or immunosuppressants were excluded. Nonparametric statistical data were calculated using GraphPad Prism software.