Dermatology and Therapy (Sep 2023)

Omalizumab for Patients with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: A Narrative Review of Current Status

  • Thomas B. Casale,
  • Ana Maria Gimenez-Arnau,
  • Jonathan A. Bernstein,
  • Michael Holden,
  • Torsten Zuberbier,
  • Marcus Maurer

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13555-023-01040-9
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 11
pp. 2573 – 2588

Abstract

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Abstract Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a debilitating inflammatory disorder of the skin, characterized by a fluctuating natural history, a complex mechanism of action, and a significant burden on patients, including effect on quality of life, development of psychosocial disorders, and a range of comorbidities. Recent international guidelines recommend a therapeutic approach of first-line treatment with second generation H1-antihistamines and second-line treatment with the biologic omalizumab. Here, the salient aspects of CSU and current status of data for omalizumab for patients with CSU are reviewed, with a focus on mechanism of action, efficacy and real-world effectiveness (including patient outcomes, response, relapse, and remission), and safety (including consideration of the risk of anaphylaxis). The review also considers recent data on COVID-19, CSU, and omalizumab and presents our perspective on future needs. Overall, the data suggest that omalizumab is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for patients with CSU that provides benefits for a wide range of patients.

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