Omalizumab is efficacious for management of recalcitrant, antihistamine-resistant chronic urticaria.

ABSTRACT

Chronic urticaria continues to be a challenging condition for both patients and physicians. Despite improved understanding of chronic urticaria, many patients continue to experience ongoing symptoms and impaired quality of life. Omalizumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to the domain at which IgE binds to the high-affinity IgE receptor on mast cells and basophils. The efficacy of omalizumab for antihistamine-resistant chronic urticaria has been demonstrated in several randomized controlled trials as well as observational studies. Omalizumab is generally well tolerated, and is associated with less potential for harm compared with other therapeutic alternatives (e.g., calcineurin inhibitors) for recalcitrant chronic urticaria. Omalizumab has become the best-studied agent for treatment of antihistamine-resistant chronic urticaria, and the agent for which the data in support of its efficacy is most methodologically sound. Omalizumab is an effective therapeutic option for patients with recalcitrant chronic urticaria.