Long term treatment with omalizumab in adolescent with refractory solar urticaria

Mauro Iannelli,Stefania Arasi,Giuseppina Zirilli,Lucia Caminiti,Giovanni B Pajno,Stefano Passanisi,Giuseppe Crisafulli

doi:10.1186/s13052-021-01151-z

Abstract

BackgroundSolar urticaria represents an uncomfortable form of chronic inducible urticaria. First and second-line treatments are ineffective in some patients, leading to an impairment in their quality of life. Omalizumab represents a safe therapeutic option in case of refractory solar urticaria.Case presentationWe update a case of a 21-year-old Caucasian girl affected by solar urticaria from the age of 14. Poor disease control was achieved with standard or high-dose of H1-antihistamines. Several omalizumab courses, including a 1-year-long course, were practiced resulting in clinical remission and significant improvement in patient’s quality of life.ConclusionOur experience confirms the effectiveness and safety of omalizumab for the management of refractory solar urticaria. Future studies are awaited in order to monitor long term effects and chronic doses of this treatment, particularly in patients who need concomitant therapy with antihistamines.

Highlights

Solar urticaria represents an uncomfortable form of chronic inducible urticaria
First line treatment is based on second-generation H1-antihistamines, which can be increased up 2–4 fold the standard dosage to achieve clinical remission
Omalizumab, a recombinant humanized anti-IgE monoclonal antibody approved for the management of chronic spontaneous urticaria and severe asthma, has been recently demonstrated as a safe and effective therapeutic option in patients with inadequate response to standard therapies [2,3,4,5]

Summary

Introduction

Solar urticaria represents an uncomfortable form of chronic inducible urticaria. First and second-line treatments are ineffective in some patients, leading to an impairment in their quality of life. Omalizumab, a recombinant humanized anti-IgE monoclonal antibody approved for the management of chronic spontaneous urticaria and severe asthma, has been recently demonstrated as a safe and effective therapeutic option in patients with inadequate response to standard therapies [2,3,4,5]. Therapeutic response of the patient had been promptly obtained after the first administration and clinical improvement persisted when maintenance dose had been practiced.

Results

Conclusion