The course of COVID-19 in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria receiving omalizumab treatment

Abstract

Background and aimAlthough there are case reports and guideline recommendations that states omalizumab can be used in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) patients during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, there are scarce studies showing the course of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in CSU patients receiving omalizumab. Materials and methodsA total of 370 patients with chronic urticaria were included in the study between June 2020 and December 31, 2020. ResultsSixty patients (16.2%) became infected with the SARS-CoV-2. The rate of pneumonia and hospitalization were 4.1% and 1.9%. There was no significant difference was determined between the CSU patients with omalizumab treatment and the non-receivers in regard to the rate of SARS-CoV-2 (+) (P: 0.567) and in regard to the rate of SARS-CoV-2 related pneumonia and hospitalization (P: 0.331 and P: 0.690). Gender, duration of CSU, serum IgE levels, omalizumab treatment, and atopy were not found to be associated with an increased risk for SARS-CoV-2 positivity in patients with CSU. ConclusionOur study shows that the use of omalizumab does not increase the risk of COVID-19 infection, COVID-19-related pneumonia and COVID-19-related hospitalizations in CSU patients.