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Background: The number of patients affected by allergies is increasing worldwide. The resulting allergic diseases are leading to significant costs for health care and social systems. Integrated care pathways are needed to enable comprehensive care within the national health systems. The ARIA (Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma) initiative develops internationally applicable guidelines for allergic respiratory diseases. Methods: ARIA serves to improve the care of patients with allergies and chronic respiratory diseases. In collaboration with other international initiatives, national associations and patient organizations in the field of allergies and respiratory diseases, real-life integrated care pathways have been developed for a digitally assisted, integrative, individualized treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR) with comorbid asthma. In the present work, these integrated care pathways have been adapted to the German situation and health system. Results: The present ICP (integrated care pathway) guideline covers key areas of the care of AR patients with and without asthma. It includes the views of patients and other healthcare providers. Discussion: A comprehensive ICP guideline can reflect real-life care better than traditional guideline models.

Background: Chronic urticaria is one of the most frequent skin diseases. Its cause, however, remains unsolved in a large number of cases. Recent investigations pointed to a potential role of Helicobacter pylori infection of the upper gastrointestinal tract as a possible causative agent in chronic urticaria. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of a 14-day eradication therapy on chronic urticaria. Methods: Thirty patients with chronic urticaria and confirmed H. pylori infection were treated with amoxicillin and omeprazole. Follow-up was conducted over a period of 6 months concerning eradication of H. pylori and remission of urticaria. Results: Only 8 out of 30 patients (26.7%) showed clinical improvement or disappearance of their urticarial symptoms. Conclusion: Though our results do not support the preliminary data of previous studies, the role of H. pylori as a possible bacterial focus of chronic urticaria has to be further investigated.

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