About All Things Urticaria – Learning about urticaria with Prof. Dr. Torsten Zuberbier
Since 2020 this podcast is an invaluable resource for health care professionals, and anyone interested in learning more about urticaria. In the first 97 episodes, Prof. Marcus Maurer († 31.07.2024) is joined by colleagues for in-depth discussions on the latest research and opinion on the pathogenesis and treatment of urticaria. Prof. Torsten Zuberbier has taken on this role. All opinions expressed are those of the faculty. This content should not be taken as medical advice and is for informational purposes only. Learn more about the network and its activities here: https://ucare-network.com/
Publisher
UCARE, the Global Allergy and Asthma Excellence Network for Urticaria
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.
They discuss:
🔹 When should wheals raise suspicion of urticarial vasculitis?
🔹 Which conditions can mimic urticarial vasculitis?
🔹 When is a skin biopsy necessary?
🔹 Which laboratory tests can help identify systemic inflammation or associated disease?
🔹 When should patients be referred to a specialized UCARE center?
🔹 How can mild or overlapping cases of urticarial vasculitis be treated?
🔹 Which therapeutic options are available when antihistamines are insufficient?
The episode emphasizes that long-lasting wheals, especially those persisting beyond 24 hours, require careful evaluation. Accurate diagnosis, appropriate testing, and specialist referral when needed are essential for distinguishing true urticaria from vasculitis and other urticarial-like conditions.
Key Learnings from the Episode:
Urticarial vasculitis can closely resemble conventional urticaria.
Wheals lasting more than 24 hours are an important diagnostic warning sign.
Mixed and overlapping clinical presentations can make diagnosis challenging.
Skin biopsy plays a central role when urticarial vasculitis is suspected.
Blood count and inflammatory markers can provide additional diagnostic information.
Systemic symptoms and autoimmune conditions should be considered during evaluation.
Some complex cases require assessment at a specialized dermatology or UCARE center.
Short courses of systemic corticosteroids may be considered in selected cases.
Dapsone, colchicine, and conventional immunosuppressants are among the discussed options for appropriate patients.
There is no single standard approach, making accurate diagnosis and individualized management essential.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Urticarial Vasculitis and Its Challenges
01:59 Clinical Features and Differential Diagnosis
02:51 Role of Skin Biopsy and Histopathology
05:03 Autoimmune and Systemic Conditions Associated with Urticarial Vasculitis
08:00 Treatment Approaches and Management Strategies
13:49 Case Management in Private Practice and Referral Guidelines
18:01 Summary and Final Recommendations
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25 Aug 2026
Urticaria as a Systemic Disease
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.
They discuss:
🔹 Why is CSU increasingly considered a systemic inflammatory disease?
🔹 Which inflammatory biomarkers are linked to disease severity?
🔹 When should treatment be escalated beyond antihistamines?
🔹 How can biomarkers help personalize therapy?
🔹 Why are patient-reported outcomes and real-world data so important?
🔹 How do comorbidities influence treatment decisions?
The discussion highlights the importance of early disease control, individualized treatment strategies, and understanding that chronic urticaria often extends beyond wheals and itch alone.
Key Learnings from the Episode:
Chronic spontaneous urticaria is more than a skin disease.
Patients often experience fatigue, sleep disturbances, and systemic symptoms.
Inflammatory biomarkers such as CRP, D-dimer, and serum amyloid A correlate with disease activity.
If antihistamines fail within a few weeks, treatment escalation should be considered.
Modern therapies should aim for complete disease control as early as possible.
Patient comorbidities can help guide individualized treatment choices.
Real-world data from registries and digital tools are improving understanding of CSU.
Personalized treatment strategies are becoming increasingly important in urticaria care.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:41 Is Urticaria a Systemic Disease?
03:38 Inflammatory Markers and Diagnostics in Chronic Urticaria
06:51 When Antihistamines Are Not Enough
09:35 Choosing Second-Line Treatment
11:19 Shared Decision-Making: Omalizumab, Remibrutinib or Dupilumab?
13:37 D-Dimer in Urticaria: Inflammation, Not Thrombosis
16:09 Real-World Evidence and New Treatment Options
17:22 Neutrophilic Urticaria and Difficult-to-Treat Patients
19:59 Comorbidities as a Guide to Treatment Choice
Do you have suggestions for future episodes? Please provide feedback and offer your suggestions for future topics and expert selection here.
Feedback form: ATU: https://forms.office.com/e/m6a2uEdsUH (https://forms.office.com/e/m6a2uEdsUH)
21 Jul 2026
Disease Modification in Urticaria
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.
They discuss:
🔹 How long does chronic spontaneous urticaria typically last?
🔹 Can early and effective treatment shorten disease duration?
🔹 Why is complete symptom control an important treatment goal?
🔹 What role do antihistamines, omalizumab, dupilumab, and remibrutinib play in long-term management?
🔹 Could food-related pseudoallergic reactions contribute to persistent symptoms?
🔹 What might the gut microbiome teach us about urticaria in the future?
🔹 How can international collaboration help answer these unanswered questions?
The discussion explores the possibility that optimal disease control may do more than relieve symptoms—it may also influence the overall course of urticaria. The episode highlights emerging ideas around disease modification, dietary influences, and the microbiome, while emphasizing the need for future research.
Key Learnings from the Episode:
Chronic spontaneous urticaria is usually a temporary disease, not a lifelong condition.
Many patients achieve remission, although it may take several years.
Complete symptom control should be a key treatment goal.
Early and effective treatment may potentially shorten disease duration.
Antihistamines remain an important foundation of treatment.
Add-on therapies such as omalizumab, dupilumab, and remibrutinib expand treatment options.
Food-related pseudoallergic reactions may contribute to symptoms in some patients.
The gut microbiome may play a role in urticaria and warrants further research.
Patient education and reassurance are important parts of care.
International research networks such as UCARE help advance knowledge and improve outcomes.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction of Experts and Topic Overview
01:04 Patient Questions About Disease Duration
02:08 Statistics on Long-Term Urticaria and Hopeful Messaging
04:23 Disease Modification and Early Treatment Strategies
06:24 Impact of Symptom Control on Disease Duration
08:29 Guidelines for Treatment Escalation and New Therapies
10:01 Combination Therapy and Disease Management Goals
12:07 Role of Food, Pseudoallergy, and Microbiome in Urticaria
14:18 Research on Microbiome and Traditional Diets
16:29 Closing Remarks and Future Directions
Who has been a guest on All Things Urticaria – Learning about urticaria with Prof. Dr. Torsten Zuberbier
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Professor Kiran Godse
Dr Karsten Weller
Michihiro Hide
Prof Petra Staubach
Dr Melba Muñoz
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