Abstract
Background
Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a skin disease characterised by wheal appearance, swelling, itching, and painful skin. Omalizumab has been used for CSU treatment demonstrating good efficacy.
Objectives
To investigate the efficacy and safety of omalizumab treatment in CSU patients in real-life practice.
Materials & methods
A retrospective analysis was performed on 38 patients suffering from CSU who received 300 mg of omalizumab every four weeks.
Results
After omalizumab treatment, 68.4% of patients showed a complete response (UAS7 = 0). All the patients were able to stop treatment with corticosteroids, cyclosporine, and anti-leukotrienes, and only 39.5% of patients remained on anti-histamines. Omalizumab treatment led to a 96% and 65% decrease in emergency room and primary health care visits, respectively, as well as a reduction in the direct costs associated with the disease. No omalizumab-related adverse events were reported.
Conclusion
Omalizumab exhibits good efficacy in alleviating the symptoms of CSU, leads to a decrease in concomitant medication use, restores patients’ quality of life, and has economic benefits by reducing disease-related health care costs.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) website. Skin Allergy Overview, 2014. Available at: http://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/allergies/skinallergies. aspx.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) website. Chronic Urticaria (Hives), 2014. Available at: http://www.aafa.org/display.cmf?id=9&sub=23&cont=328.
Kulthanan K, Jiamton S, Thumpimukvatana N, Pinkaew S. Chronic idiopathic urticaria: prevalence and clinical course. J Dermatol 2007; 34: 294–301.
Maurer M, Weller K, Bindslev-Jensen C, et al. Unmet clinical needs in chronic spontaneous urticaria. A GA2LEN task force report. Allergy 2011; 66: 317–30.
Sánchez-Borges M, Asero R, Ansotegui IJ, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of urticaria and angioedema: a worldwide perspective. World Allergy Organ J 2012; 5: 125–47.
O’Donnell BF, Lawlor F, Simpson J, Morgan M, Greaves MW. The impact of chronic urticaria on the quality of life. Br J Dermatol 1997; 136: 197–201.
Zuberbier T, Asero R, Bindslev-Jensen C, et al. EAACI/GA2LEN/EDF/WAO guideline: management of urticaria. Allergy 2009; 64: 1427–43.
Zuberbier T, Aberer W, Asero R, et al. The EAACI/GA(2) LEN/EDF/WAO Guideline for the definition, classification, diagnosis, and management of urticaria: the 2013 revision and update. Allergy 2014; 69: 868–87.
Büyüköztürk S, Gelincik A, Demirtürk M, Kocaturk E, Colakoğlu B, Dal M. Omalizumab markedly improves urticaria activity scores and quality of life scores in chronic spontaneous urticaria patients: a real life survey. J Dermatol 2012; 39(5): 439–42.
Maurer M, Altrichter S, Bieber T, et al. Efficacy and safety of omalizumab in patients with chronic urticaria who exhibit IgE against thyroperoxidase. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2011; 128: 202–9, e5.
Maurer M, Rosén K, Hsieh H-J, et al. Omalizumab for the treatment of chronic idiopathic or spontaneous urticaria. N Engl J Med 2013; 368: 924–35.
Saini S, Rosen KE, Hsieh H-J, et al. A randomized, placebocontrolled, dose-ranging study of single-dose omalizumab in patients with H1-antihistamine-refractory chronic idiopathic urticaria. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2011; 128: 567–73, e1.
Song CH, Stern S, Giruparajah M, Berlin N, Sussman GL. Longterm efficacy of fixed-dose omalizumab for patients with severe chronic spontaneous urticaria. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2013; 110: 113–7.
Baiardini I, Pasquali M, Braido F, et al. A new tool to evaluate the impact of chronic urticaria on quality of life: chronic urticaria quality of life questionnaire (CU-QoL). Allergy 2005; 60: 1073–8.
Młynek A, Zalewska-Janowska A, Martus P, Staubach P, Zuberbier T, Maurer M. How to assess disease activity in patients with chronic urticaria? Allergy 2008; 63: 777–80.
Carrillo DC, Borges MS, García E, Egea E, Serrano CD. Omalizumab vs. placebo in the management of chronic idiopathic urticaria: a systematic review. World Allergy Organ J 2014; 7: 72.
Groffik A, Mitzel-Kaoukhov H, Magerl M, Maurer M, Staubach P. Omalizumab-an effective and safe treatment of therapy-resistant chronic spontaneous urticaria. Allergy 2011; 66: 303–5.
Sánchez-Machín I, Iglesias-Souto J, Franco A, Barrios Y, Gonzalez R, Matheu V. T cell activity in successful treatment of chronic urticaria with omalizumab. Clin Mol Allergy CMA 2011; 9: 11.
Labrador-Horrillo M, Valero A, Velasco M, et al. Efficacy of omalizumab in chronic spontaneous urticaria refractory to conventional therapy: analysis of 110 patients in real-life practice. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2013; 13: 1225–8.
Kaplan A, Ledford D, Ashby M, et al. Omalizumab in patients with symptomatic chronic idiopathic/spontaneous urticaria despite standard combination therapy. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2013; 132: 101–9.
Saini SS, Bindslev-Jensen C, Maurer M, et al. Efficacy and safety of omalizumab in patients with chronic idiopathic/spontaneous urticaria who remain symptomatic on H1 antihistamines: a randomized, placebo-controlled study. J Invest Dermatol 2015; 135: 67–75.
Levy AN, García A, Ruiz AJ, García-Agua Soler N, Sanjuan MVH. Cost-effectiveness of omalizumab in severe persistent asthma in Spain: a real-life perspective. J Asthma 2015; 52: 205–10.
Lafeuille M-H, Dean J, Zhang J, Duh MS, Gorsh B, Lefebvre P. Impact of omalizumab on emergency-department visits, hospitalizations, and corticosteroid use among patients with uncontrolled asthma. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2012; 109: 59–64.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
About this article
Cite this article
Giménez-Arnau, A., Velasco, M., Armario Hita, J.C. et al. Omalizumab: what benefits should we expect?. Eur J Dermatol 26, 340–344 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1684/ejd.2016.2809
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1684/ejd.2016.2809