The course of COVID-19 in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria receiving omalizumab treatment

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Although there are case reports and guideline recommendations that states omalizumab can be used in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) patients during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, there are scarce studies showing the course of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in CSU patients receiving omalizumab. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 370 patients with chronic urticaria were included in the study between June 2020 and December 31, 2020. RESULTS: Sixty patients (16.2%) became infected with the SARS-CoV-2. The rate of pneumonia and hospitalization were 4.1% and 1.9%. There was no significant difference was determined between the CSU patients with omalizumab treatment and the non-receivers in regard to the rate of SARS-CoV-2 (+) (P: 0.567) and in regard to the rate of SARS-CoV-2 related pneumonia and hospitalization (P: 0.331 and P: 0.690). Gender, duration of CSU, serum IgE levels, omalizumab treatment, and atopy were not found to be associated with an increased risk for SARS-CoV-2 positivity in patients with CSU. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that the use of omalizumab does not increase the risk of COVID-19 infection, COVID-19-related pneumonia and COVID-19-related hospitalizations in CSU patients.