Solar urticaria treated successfully with intravenous high-dose immunoglobulin: a case report

Abstract

Solar urticaria is an idiopathic, chronic and rare photodermatosis, characterized by the sudden onset of pruritic urticarial hives and plaques on the exposed areas of the skin, after a brief period of exposure to the natural sunlight or to an artificial light source. A Caucasian 27-year-old man presented with clinical features suggestive of solar urticaria was referred to our photodermatology unit, where phototesting confirmed the diagnosis of solar urticaria induced by visible light. As he was refractory to oral antihistamines and had slight improvement under UVA plus visible phototherapy, human high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin was administered, with an excellent clinical-sustained response.