Tuesday, Oct. 1 is Urticaria Day, raising awareness of a condition more commonly known as hives.
This year, Canadians living with chronic hives have two new resources, developed in part by a McGill University researcher: North America's first chronic urticaria patient registry and a new app for patient care.
Dr. Elena Netchiporouk, Assistant Professor in McGill's Department of Medicine, can share her insights on hives, including details of two initiatives in which she is involved:
- CRUSE Control Urticaria app: Launched in Canada this October, the app allows patients to report symptoms and treatment responses to their doctors in real time, helping personalize care and track treatment success.
- CURE Initiative: The first patient registry for chronic urticaria in North America launched in Hamilton in 2023 and is currently in review at McGill. CURE collects valuable data from patients, helping researchers better understand the condition, evaluate treatments, and improve care.
"Chronic urticaria isn't just about itchy skin it can cause severe swelling, disrupt sleep, and have an impact on mental health. Unpredictable flare-ups often lead to social isolation, missed work, and emergency hospital visits. The condition affects about 65 million people worldwide. Despite its prevalence, chronic urticaria is often underdiagnosed, delaying the care that could improve patients' lives," said Dr. Netchiporouk.
Dr. Netchiporouk is an Assistant Professor in the Divisions of Dermatology and Experimental Medicine at McGill University, a dermatologist at the McGill University Health Centre, a Junior Scientist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Founder and Director of Montreal Derm FilEZ, and Regional Director (Quebec) for the Canadian Dermatology Association.
Dr. Netchiporouk can connect media with urticaria patients who can share their personal experiences with the condition and how new resources are making a difference.
