The effect of COVID-19 on patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria treated with omalizumab and antihistamines: A cross-sectional, comparative study.
J Cosmet Dermatol
; 20(11): 3369-3375, 2021 Nov.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1443297
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is defined as recurrent attacks of urticaria present for more than six weeks. The monoclonal anti-immunoglobulin E antibody, omalizumab, was approved for the treatment of CSU in patients who remain refractory to H1-antihistamines. Biologic agents are shown not to increase the risk of COVID-19 infection in different studies.OBJECTIVE:
In the present study, we aimed to determine the prevalance of COVID-19 infection in relation to the age, gender, presence of other comorbidities, and treatment given for CSU.METHODS:
We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study of 233 patients diagnosed with CSU in a tertiary referral hospital. Demographical data, treatment given for CSU, the presence of COVID-19-related symptoms, history of close contact to a person with COVID-19 and COVID-19 real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results were determined via a telephone survey and checked from medical data records.RESULTS:
One hundred sixty patients were female; whereas 73 were male. The mean age was 44.76. Out of 233 patients with chronic urticaria, 125 had symptoms related to COVID-19 infection. RT-PCR testing for COVID-19 was performed in 156 patients. Of 156 patients with COVID-19 RT-PCR test, RT-PCR result was positive in 15 cases.CONCLUSIONS:
No statistically significant relationship was found between COVID-19 RT-PCR positivity and the type of treatment administered for chronic urticaria when the patients are divided into omalizumab ± oral antihistamines and only oral antihistamines treatment groups (p = 0.150). Omalizumab seems to be safe in the era of COVID-19.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Anti-Allergic Agents
/
Omalizumab
/
Chronic Urticaria
/
COVID-19
/
Histamine Antagonists
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
English
Journal:
J Cosmet Dermatol
Journal subject:
Dermatology
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Jocd.14484
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS