title: Use of omalizumab in the treatment of chronic urticaria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Omalizumab is indicated to treat chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) refractory to antihistamines. We aim to describe the experience of our department in the treatment of CSU with omalizumab.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of the clinical records of patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six patients (5 females, median age 33 years) treated with omalizumab for a median of 17.5 months were evaluated. All patients had improvement of symptoms after the first dose. In one case, the treatment was suspended after 7 months, but in 9 weeks there was recurrence of symptoms. The main side effect was headache in the drug administration's day. Currently, all patients maintain therapy with omalizumab and are clinically stable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Omalizumab proved to be an effective and safe drug for the treatment of patients with refractory CSU.
authors.affiliation: Immunoallergy Department, Centro Hospitalar Vila Nova Gaia e Espinho, EPE, Portugal. E-mail: aninhasnet@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Cordeiro Moreira
authors.affiliation: Immunoallergy Department, Centro Hospitalar Vila Nova Gaia e Espinho, EPE, Portugal.
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Rosmaninho Lopes de Soares E Silva
authors.affiliation: Immunoallergy Department, Centro Hospitalar Vila Nova Gaia e Espinho, EPE, Portugal.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pereira Guilherme
authors.affiliation: Immunoallergy Department, Centro Hospitalar Vila Nova Gaia e Espinho, EPE, Portugal.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: da Silva Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Immunoallergy Department, Centro Hospitalar Vila Nova Gaia e Espinho, EPE, Portugal.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Fonseca Moreira da Silva
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069444:Omalizumab / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014581:Urticaria / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D000069444:Omalizumab
keywords: anti-immunoglobulin E; chronic spontaneous urticaria; omalizumab; treatment; wheal