Program Description
Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition
defined by the sudden and unpredictable appearance of wheals, angioedema, or
both, without an identifiable external trigger. Driven by complex mast cell
activation and diverse immunological pathways, including IgE-mediated
autoimmunity and histamine-independent signaling, CSU can result in increased
clinical and economic burden due to the need for frequent health care contacts,
emergency department visits, and missed work. While the current treatment
landscape relies heavily on a stepwise approach starting with
H1-antihistamines, a significant portion of patients remain refractory even to
high-dose therapy and require more targeted interventions. This program will
review pharmacist-led strategies to support personalized approaches to
treatment and recognizing when patients with CSU require escalation beyond
standard antihistamine therapy for refractory symptoms. Expert faculty will
review clinical trial data for emerging and investigational therapies while
addressing the persistent challenges of treatment resistance and the
limitations of current histamine-independent pathways. Beyond clinical data,
the session will explore common challenges affecting patients with CSU, such as
logistical barriers to accessing novel therapies, complex administration
requirements, and the burden of long-term adherence. Through the integration of
emerging mechanisms and real-world patient cases, this session aims to empower
pharmacists to support individualized, evidence-based treatment selection and
improve long-term disease trajectories for those living with CSU.
Target audience: Specialty pharmacists
Type of activity: Application
Release date: June 24, 2026
Expiration date: June 24, 2027
Learner level: Foundational, Intermediate
Time to complete activity: 1.5 hour
Fee: Free
Educational Objectives
At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
- Recognize the clinical burden, pathophysiology, and heterogeneity of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and how these factors influence patient outcomes
- Identify guideline-directed stepwise management strategies to address treatment failure and when to escalate care beyond antihistamines
- Compare the mechanisms of action, dosing, clinical trial evidence, and appropriate clinical use of approved and emerging therapies for chronic spontaneous urticaria, including biologics and oral targeted agents
- Apply specialty pharmacy strategies to optimize medication access, support adherence, counsel patients on safe and effective use of advanced therapies, and collaborate with clinicians to improve long-term disease control
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