Foti C, Romita P, Ambrogio F, et al. - According to observations, there still remains lack of clarity on the predictors of response to omalizumab (a monoclonal anti-IgE antibody) therapy in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) patients, and further explorations are required to assess the presence of baseline factors that can impact treatment outcome.

• This is a retrospective analysis of 124 patients treated with omalizumab for moderate to severe CSU refractory to antihistamines, to assess if the response of CSU to omalizumab and disease relapse were linked with individual and/or clinical features of patients.

• Post-24 weeks therapy, complete remission (UAS7 [Urticaria Activity Score over the last 7 days] =0) or good control (UAS7 <7) of CSU was achieved by 91% of patients.

• Following parameters were included: age and gender of patients, documented history of atopy or autoimmune thyroid disease, CSU duration and baseline severity, concurrent angioedema, and association with chronic inducible urticaria.

• Of these parameters, none was found to be linked with response to omalizumab.

• Similarly, no significant difference in these parameters was found between patients who experienced CSU relapse and those without relapse.