title: Basophil FcεRI Expression in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: A Potential Immunological Predictor of Response to Omalizumab Therapy.
abstract: Although the efficacy of omalizumab has been clearly demonstrated in the treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), its mechanism of action, which results in improvement in CSU symptoms, is not entirely understood. This study investigated the effect of omalizumab on expression of the high-affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI) on blood basophils from patients with active CSU, and its association with the clinical response. Patients exhibiting significant clinical improvement showed a sharp reduction in the levels of basophil FcεRI after 4 weeks, which was maintained throughout the total duration of the treatment. Such evolution was not observed in non-responder patients. Furthermore, non-responders showed significantly lower baseline levels of FcεRI than responders. Baseline basophil FcεRI expression was found to be a potential immunological predictor of response to omalizumab (100% sensitivity and 73.2% specificity). The results of this study contribute to our knowledge of the therapeutic benefit and mechanism of action of anti-IgE therapy in CSU.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hospital del Mar-Institut Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Passeig Marítim, 25-29, ES-08003 Barcelona, Spain. gustavo.deza@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Deza
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bertolín-Colilla
authors.forename: Ramon M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Pujol
authors.forename: Laia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Curto-Barredo
authors.forename: Dulce
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Soto
authors.forename: Maribel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gimeno
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Giménez-Arnau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001491:Basophils / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069444:Omalizumab / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017455:Receptors, IgE / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014581:Urticaria / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D017455:Receptors, IgE; D000069444:Omalizumab