Abstract

MARCELINO, João; COSTA, Célia; AGUIAR, Pedro  and  PEREIRA-BARBOSA, Manuel. Identification of different response patterns to omalizumab in patients with chronic spontaneous urticarial. Rev Port Imunoalergologia [online]. 2018, vol.26, n.2, pp.35-46. ISSN 0871-9721.

Introduction: Omalizumab is approved for severe chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), non‑responsive to non‑sedating H1‑antihistamines. However, there is little data to predict patients’ response to omalizumab. We aim to identify possible predictors of response to omalizumab in CSU patients. Methods: Retrospective chart‑review study (2006‑2015), of CSU adults treated with omalizumab for 6 or more months. Statistical analyses: descriptive statistics, chi‑square, odds ratio analysis and generalized linear models. Results: Twenty‑three patients (3 men) were included. Prior to omalizumab, all were medicated with montelukast, quadruple daily dose of non‑sedating H1‑antihistamine and systemic oral corticosteroids; additionally, 15 were on H2‑antihistamines. IVIg, cyclosporine and azatioprine had previously been tried in 8 patients with no efficacy. Using generalized linear models, patients showed a reduction, per omalizumab administration, of 16% (p<0.001) of the UAS (urticaria activity score) score and 20% (p<0.001) of the UAS7 (urticaria activity score 7). Women had a reduction, per omalizumab administration, of the UAS (15%, p<0.001) and UAS7 (17%, p<0.001); compared to men’s UAS (2%, p=0.067) and UAS7 (8%, p=0.067) score’s. Patients with baseline total serum IgE>500kU/L had a reduction, per omalizumab administration, of the UAS (28%, p<0.001) and UAS7 (41%, p<0.001) scores; compared to IgE<100kU/L patients who had a reduction of the UAS (12%, p<0.001) and UAS7 (20%, p<0.001) scores. Conclusions: Response to omalizumab seems to be faster in patients with higher baseline total serum IgE and in women. A lack of response to immune‑modulating therapies prior to omalizumab does not predict a lack of response to omalizumab.

Keywords : Omalizumab; anti-IgE; chronic spontaneous urticaria; UAS; total IgE.

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