BACKGROUND: Chronic urticaria is a dermatosis that negatively interferes in quality of life of affected individuals. The classic treatment with antihistamines is many times ineffective. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of using dapsone in the treatment of chronic urticaria non-responsive to antihistamines. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out by reviewing the medical charts of patients seen at an outpatient’s clinic specialized in urticaria, between November 1996 and March 2007. RESULTS: Twenty patients with difficult to control chronic urticaria and who were treated with 100 mg/day of dapsone were evaluated. High doses of antihistamines were maintained and associated with dapsone. Antihistamines alone did not control symptoms. Fourteen patients (70%) presented good results, observed in the reduction or disappearance of lesions as well as in reduced pruritus; three patients (15%) did not get any success with the medication; and three (15%) had the treatment interrupted due to side effects. CONCLUSION: In this study it can be concluded that dapsone is a safe and efficient option for patients presenting severe chronic urticaria non-responsive to antihistamines.
Dapsone; Histamine H1 antagonists; Urticaria
