Background Omalizumab is a very important drug for the treatment of chronic urticaria. Although omalizumab’s therapeutic efficacy has been demonstrated, data on real-world experiences in Korea, especially regarding chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU), are limited. This study attempted to compare the efficacy of omalizumab in Korean chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and CIndU patients. Methods Fifty-two CSU and 29 CIndU patients were included and Urticaria Activity Score 7 (UAS7) at baseline, week 4, and week 12 was assessed retrospectively. Results Omalizumab 150 mg significantly decreased UAS7 in both patients with CSU and CIndU with only one dose ( P < 0.001). The significant decrease in the UAS7 scores of both groups of patients continued from weeks 4 to 12. Although there was no significant difference in treatment efficacy between the two groups, the symptoms of patients with CSU tended to improve faster; furthermore, the number of antihistamines administered daily reduced more significantly in this patient group ( P = 0.047). Additionally, the decrease in the UAS7 score between baseline and week 12 and the response rate were higher in patients with CSU. Conclusion Omalizumab may be slightly more effective against CSU than against CIndU. Regarding the CIndU subtypes, dermatographic urticaria was associated with the greatest reduction in the UAS7 score, and patients with this condition showed the highest response rate, indicating the best effect of omalizumab. The duration of chronic urticaria was greater in non-responders than in responders ( P = 0.025). Conversely, baseline immunoglobulin E levels were significantly higher in responders ( P = 0.039).

Background: Some alopecic diseases can be diagnosed by detailed history taking and physical examination, but in many cases, biopsy must be performed to make a definite diagnosis. Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the clinico-pathological concordance of scalp lesions showing alopecia. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records and biopsy slides of patients who underwent biopsy for evaluating scalp lesions showing alopecia. Based on the definitions of clinico-pathological concordances, scalp alopecic disease was evaluated. Results: A total of 121 patients were enrolled in the study. A total of 203 clinical differential diagnoses were made before performing a biopsy. Thirty-one patients showed full concordance, and 58 patients showed partial concordance; thus overall concordance was shown in 89 patients (73.55%). Folliculitis decalvans and alopecia areata showed a higher full concordance rate than average (P < 0.05), whereas dissecting folliculitis showed a lower overall concordance rate than average, and folliculitis decalvans showed a higher overall concordance rate than average (P < 0.05). The overall concordance rate of alopecia areata was 100% (P = 0.061). Conclusion: In diagnosing folliculitis decalvans and alopecia areata, which showed high full and overall concordance, performing a biopsy to make a definite diagnosis is not always necessary, especially when patients show typical clinical features. Dissecting folliculitis, which showed low overall concordance, was less likely to be suspected as a clinical differential diagnosis, making it difficult to distinguish based on clinical findings alone. Therefore, when it is suspected, a detailed evaluation including a biopsy is recommended.

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enrolled, and its possible immunomodulatory effects or interaction with methotrexate. 7 An important consideration is also the intrinsic effect that underlying inflammatory disorders have in driving malignancy risk. We could not assess for confounding by indication as most participants were taking methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis/arthritis.Limitations of our study include the low number of melanoma events, lack of data around past methotrexate use, and data on specific melanoma risk factors such as sun exposure and naevus count. Residual confounding bias might exist as we did not consider methotrexate as a timedependent exposure. Strengths include the large sample size, and the fact that all melanoma events were confirmed through adjudication.Our results provide further impetus to examine the possible effects that methotrexate has on melanoma risk. Such findings have important clinical implications for risk assessment and skin cancer surveillance strategies.