title: Clinical features of adolescents with chronic idiopathic or spontaneous urticaria: Review of omalizumab clinical trials.
abstract: Adults and adolescents were included in 3 phase 3 omalizumab trials in chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU): ASTERIA I, ASTERIA II, and GLACIAL.
  
  
  
  To describe the baseline clinical profile of adolescent patients with CIU enrolled in the omalizumab trials to add to the limited literature available on CIU in this population.
  
  
  
  Data for patient demographics, baseline clinical disease characteristics, medical history, and previous CIU medication information (not efficacy assessments) from phase 3 omalizumab trials were pooled and descriptive statistical analyses performed for adolescent (12 to <18 years old) and adult (≥18 years old) subgroups. Inferential analysis was inappropriate, partly because of small sample size in the adolescent subgroup.
  
  
  
  The pooled population of 975 patients with CIU included 39 adolescents (4.0%). Demographics of adolescents and adults with CIU were similar, but compared with adults, fewer adolescents had positive Chronic Urticaria Index test results. Baseline clinical disease characteristics were also similar between the subgroups, with the number of previous CIU medications slightly lower in adolescents compared with adults. Medical history and existing conditions in adolescents tended to be more allergy than cardiovascular related, and fewer experienced angioedema compared with adults.
  
  
  
  Pooled data indicate differences in baseline demographic and clinical characteristics between adult and adolescent patient subgroups. This finding helps augment our understanding of the clinical profile of CIU in adolescents, but larger-scale studies in this population are warranted.
  
  
  
  ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: NCT01287117 (ASTERIA I), NCT01292473 (ASTERIA II), and NCT01264939 (GLACIAL).
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Asthma Care of Long Island, New York, New York. Electronic address: drsgoldstein@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Stanley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gabriel
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Farid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kianifard
authors.affiliation: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Skoner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069444:Omalizumab / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014581:Urticaria / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000069444:Omalizumab; D007073:Immunoglobulin E