Asia Pac Allergy.  2014 Apr;4(2):129-130. 10.5415/apallergy.2014.4.2.129.

Omalizumab in recurring larynx angioedema: a case report

Affiliations
  • 1Adult Allergy Unit, Göztepe Tainning and Research Hospital, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Istanbul 34469, Turkey. aysebilgeozturk@yahoo.com
  • 2Department of Dermatology, OkmeydanGı Trainning and Research Hospital, Istanbul 34126, Turkey.

Abstract

Angioedema with swelling of larynx is a serious allergic reaction and can be life-threatening. It can occur after exposure to various triggers and usually it is very difficult for the patient and the doctor to find the trigger and maintain complete remission. In idiopathic recurring angioedema presenting with frequent attacks, prophylaxis with H₁ antihistamines recommended. However, not all patients respond to antihistamines. Omalizumab is an anti-immunoglobulin (Ig)-E-Ig-G antibody approved for the treatment of asthma and also effective treatment in chronic spontaneous urticaria. We report a 47-year-old male patient with severe idiopathic angioedema controlled by corticosteroid and proggressed after discontining of corticosteroid because of its side effects. Omalizumab at a dose of 300 mg every 4 weeks was administrated and omalizumab provided a rapid clinical response after first injection. During the 4 months of omalizumab therapy, he had no further attacks and any other treatment needs. After 3 months of stopping omalizumab therapy, during the 4-week period he had two mild lip swelling in his lips that resolved with antihistamines.

Keyword

Omalizumab; Angioedema; Larynx

MeSH Terms

Angioedema*
Asthma
Histamine Antagonists
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Larynx*
Lip
Male
Middle Aged
Omalizumab*
Urticaria
Histamine Antagonists
Omalizumab

Reference

1. Grattan C, Powell S, Humphreys F. British Association of Dermatologists. Management and diagnostic guidelines for urticaria and angio-oedema. Br J Dermatol. 2001; 144:708–714.
Article
2. Kaplan AP. Treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2012; 4:326–331.
Article
3. Buyukozturk S, Gelincik A, Demirturk M, Kocaturk E, Colakoglu B, Dal M. Omalizumab markedly improves urticaria activity scores and quality of life scores in chronic spontaneous urticaria patients: a real life survey. J Dermatol. 2012; 39:439–442.
4. Sands MF, Blume JW, Schwartz SA. Successful treatment of 3 patients with recurrent idiopathic angioedema with omalizumab. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007; 120:979–981.
Article
5. von Websky A, Reich K, Steinkraus V, Breuer K. Complete remission of severe chronic recurrent angioedema of unknown cause with omalizumab. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2013; 11:677–678.
Article
Full Text Links
  • APA
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr