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From regulatory limitations to new opportunities: Real‐life experience on the effectiveness of short courses of omalizumab in the treatment of chronic idiopatic urticaria
Author(s) -
Papaianni Valeria,
Guarneri Fabrizio,
Vaccaro Mario,
Borgia Francesco,
Guarneri Claudio,
Cannavò Serafinella P.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
dermatologic therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.595
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1529-8019
pISSN - 1396-0296
DOI - 10.1111/dth.13188
Subject(s) - omalizumab , medicine , refractory (planetary science) , chronic urticaria , antihistamine , adverse effect , dermatology , pediatrics , surgery , immunoglobulin e , anesthesia , immunology , antibody , physics , astrobiology
Economic sustainability of long‐term continuous treatment of antihistamine refractory chronic urticaria with omalizumab may be an issue. We assessed the efficacy of relatively short courses (5–6 months) of omalizumab in patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU). We retrospectively studied 40 patients (observed between June 2015 and January 2019) affected by moderate‐to‐severe CIU refractory to anti‐H1 antihistamines (up to fourfold doses). Omalizumab was administered every 4 weeks for 24 weeks, then for 20 weeks in case of a relapse of moderate‐to‐severe degree, then again for 24 weeks in case of a second relapse. Monthly clinical evaluations were performed. Mean disease severity significantly dropped after 1 month and further decreased thereafter, with 30 complete remissions after the first course of treatment. In 2–4 months, 18 patients had a relapse of moderate‐to‐severe degree. The profile of response to the second course of omalizumab was similar to the first. A third course was necessary for seven patients. No adverse effects were recorded. Courses of 5–6 months of omalizumab may induce rapid significant improvement of urticaria and many prolonged complete remissions. In case of relapse, further courses show a similar profile of response and may induce additional long‐term complete remissions.