Elevated baseline soluble FcεRI may be linked to early response to omalizumab treatment in chronic spontaneous urticaria

• Published in: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology 2024-01, Vol.38 (1), p.167-174
• Main Authors: Moñino‐Romero, S., Kolkhir, P., Ohanyan, T., Szépfalusi, Z., Weller, K., Metz, M., Scheffel, J., Maurer, M., Altrichter, S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-Allergic Agents - therapeutic use; Chronic Disease; Chronic Urticaria - drug therapy; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use; Omalizumab - therapeutic use; Treatment Outcome; Urticaria - drug therapy
• ISSN: 0926-9959; 1468-3083
• DOI: 10.1111/jdv.19485

Background Omalizumab, an anti‐IgE monoclonal antibody, is an effective treatment in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). Predictors of fast and good response for omalizumab treatment have not yet been identified and characterized. Objective To evaluate whether soluble FcεRI (sFcεRI), a marker of IgE‐mediated mast cell activation, predicts the time of response to omalizumab in CSU. Methods Sera of 67 CSU patients were obtained before omalizumab treatment and analysed for sFcεRI levels by ELISA (2 ng/mL was used as cut‐off for elevated sFcɛRI). Treatment response during the first 4 weeks was assessed with the urticaria activity score (UAS7), urticaria control test (UCT) and the rolling UAS7 (rUAS7). Results Elevated pre‐treatment sFcɛRI levels were detected in more than 70% of patients with completely controlled disease (UCT = 16) and well‐controlled disease (UCT = 12–15) and were significantly associated with disease control (χ2 = 4.94, p