Omalizumab in Chronic Urticaria: An Italian Survey

Omalizumab is approved for use in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU); however, it is not approved for chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU). The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of omalizumab in treating CSU and CIndU in Italy. This is a multicentre prospective observational real-life study involving patients with severe urticaria capable of undergoing omalizumab therapy. We enrolled 127 patients (59.1% females), ranging in age from 15 to 83 years, 69.3% had CSU alone, 26.8% had CSU and CIndU, and 3.9% had only CIndU (30.8% delayed pressure, 35.9% dermographic, 15.3% cholinergic, 12.8% cold, 5.1% aquagenic). After the first cycle of omalizumab (300 mg every 4 weeks for 24 weeks), 16 CSU patients and 10 patients (20.5%) with CIndU with or without CSU did not require a second cycle of omalizumab (300 mg every 4 weeks for 20 weeks). The patient with aquagenic urticaria achieved remission after the first cycle. None showed a lack of response to the second cycle of omalizumab. Omalizumab is a promising drug for both spontaneous and inducible chronic urticaria. Current evidence indicates that omalizumab may be approved also for CIndU. (c) 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel