SUCCESSFUL USE OF OMALIZUMAB IN A PATIENT WITH H1- ANTIHISTAMINE-REFRACTORY CHRONIC SPONTANEOUS URTICARIA

• Autor(a) principal: Silva, Pedro Morais
• Data de Publicação: 2014
• Outros Autores: Mendes, Ana, Costa, Ana Célia, Barbosa, Manuel Pereira
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: https://doi.org/10.29021/spdv.72.2.268
• topic: Anti-allergic agents; Antibodies; monoclonal; Histamine H1 antagonists; Drug therapy; combination; Urticaria.; Antialérgicos; Anticorpos monoclonais; Anti-histamínicos-H1; Terapia combinada; Urticária

Chronic urticaria (CU) is characterized by an evanescent, itchy wheal and flare reaction that does not resolve completely after 6 weeks. It is a relatively frequent disease that causes significant morbidity. Its therapy with drugs other than H1-antihistamines has not yet been exhaustively studied, but recently some promising treatment options have been described. We describe a case of severe, corticosteroid-dependent CU that was resistant to conventional treatment with high doses of H1-antihistamines. In this case, treatment with omalizumab, an anti-IgE monoclonal antibody, allowed control of urticaria symptoms and permitted corticosteroid interruption. No adverse reactions were reported and the drug remained effective during 18 months of therapy. We present a review of the available literature concerning the use of omalizumab in CU, emphasizing information about its long-term efficacy.