DOI: 10.26453/otjhs.1282836 ISSN:

Impact of Omalizumab and Antihistamines on Incidence and Prognosis of Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria During Covid-19 Pandemic

Rabia ÖZTAŞ KARA, Bahar SEVİMLİ DİKİCİER, Ahmet Can YAĞMUR, Ahmet KARA, Mahizer YALDIZ
  • General Earth and Planetary Sciences
  • General Environmental Science
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Objective: The effects of drugs used in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and similar chronic dermatological diseases on the course of COVID-19 still continue to be the subject for many studies. The present study aimed to reveal the frequency and severity of COVID-19 infection in CSU patients treated with omalizumab and antihistamines. Materials and Methods: CSU patients, followed up for CSU in our clinic and treated with omalizumab or antihistamines between 2015 and 2022 were evaluated retrospectively and compared with the control group in terms of the incidence and severity of COVID-19 infection. Results: Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test positivity rate for SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 17.4%, 30.1%, and 34.8% of the patients in omalizumab, antihistamine, and control groups, respectively (p: 0.000). The disease activity scores were increased in both antihistamine and omalizumab treated CSU patients, while an the increase was minor in patients using omalizumab. Conclusion: The fact that COVID-19 infection was seen less frequent and urticaria activity scores were lower during the infection in the omalizumab group suggests that omalizumab treatment is safe and convenient to use during COVID-19 infection.

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