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Omalizumab a fast-acting effective treatment for chronic urticaria

In a retrospective analysis, researchers found omalizumab to be an effective treatment in patients with difficult-to-treat chronic urticaria.

Data from 51 patients with chronic urticaria who visited a specialist urticaria clinic between September 2008 and November 2012 were analyzed. The researchers looked specifically at responder rates, optimal dosage, response to up- and down-dosing, and safety.

Twenty patients exhibited chronic spontaneous urticaria, 21 had different forms of chronic inducible urticaria and 10 had both.

 

Martin Metz

 

Marcus Maurer

Of the 30 patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria treated with omalizumab, 25 (83%) achieved complete remission of symptoms, three showed significant improvement, and two had no significant improvement.

In the 25 patients who achieved complete remission, 21 were controlled with an omalizumab dose of 150 mg. The researchers found the optimum interval between doses to be 4 weeks.

Twelve patients (57%) gained complete remission within on the first day following their first injection, and six other patients (29%) achieved complete remission within 4 weeks.

One reported instance of adverse effects from omalizumab occurred, as a patient ceased treatment after developing mild cutaneous angioedema several hours after treatment.

Disclosure: The researchers have no relevant financial disclosures.