Dermatologic uses of omalizumab^*

^*The article has been presented by Dr. Chia as a poster at the 2015 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting (San Francisco, California).

Abstract

Purpose: Omalizumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody that inhibits the binding of immunoglobulin E (IgE) to the high-affinity IgE receptor (FceRI) on the surface of mast cells and basophils. Omalizumab has been approved for use in asthma, and new reports show promise in a variety of dermatologic diseases. Herein, we review the literature on omalizumab in dermatology and discuss the safety, efficacy and mechanisms of action for this emerging therapy.

Materials and methods: PubMED, MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched for the period 1 January 1990 to 1 September 2016. Articles sourced were graded according to the Oxford Center for Evidence-Based Medicine Levels of Evidence Grades of Recommendation criteria.

Results: A total of 99 articles met our inclusion criteria. They included reports on the use of omalizumab in chronic spontaneous urticaria, atopic dermatitis, mastocytosis, hyper-IgE syndrome, bullous pemphigoid, Netherton syndrome, urticarial vasculitis, Churg-Strauss syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Conclusions: Omalizumab is effective in a variety of recalcitrant immune-mediated and autoimmune skin disorders. It is a safe and effective treatment for use in chronic idiopathic urticaria (Grade of recommendation: A). Randomized clinical trials with long-term follow-ups are warranted to firmly establish the role of omalizumab in the treatment of dermatologic disease.

Keywords:

• Omazliumab
• eczema
• urticaria
• bullous pemphigoid

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship and/or publication of this article.

Funding

The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Notes

^* The article has been presented by Dr. Chia as a poster at the 2015 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting (San Francisco, California).