Omalizumab for the treatment of atopic dermatitis

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease with hyper-reactivity to environmental triggers in predisposed individuals. Type 2 helper T cells driven inflammation is prevalent in early phases while Th1/Th17 mechanisms lead the chronic forms. Omalizumab is a monoclonal anti-IgE antibody that is approved in many countries for the treatment of some asthma and urticaria patients. Several reports have highlighted the efficacy of omalizumab in AD patients. We describe herein a series of 12 AD patients treated with omalizumab, six of which obtained significant clinical benefit. Controlled trials include only small number of AD patients and have not found differences with placebo, although an effect of omalizumab over the immunological responses to allergens might exist. More studies are warranted to elucidate whether specific subgroups of AD patients could obtain benefit from omalizumab.