Improving of psychological status and inflammatory biomarkers during omalizumab for chronic spontaneous urticaria

Abstract

Background: Depression and anxiety are the most common psychiatric comorbidities in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). Omalizumab is a monoclonal antibody approved for CSU treatment. We evaluated the prevalence of anxiety and depression in CSU patients before and after treatment with omalizumab. Materials & methods: A total of 30 patients were enrolled in the study: 15 patients affected by CSU and treated with omalizumab and the other 15 healthy subjects did not receive any systemic therapy. All patients were evaluated using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, CRP and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, at baseline and after 6 months. Results: The omalizumab group after 6 months of therapy had a decrease of all the scores and biomarkers. Conclusion: Omalizumab allowed an improvement of urticaria and mental comorbidities. Depression and anxiety are the most common psychiatric comorbidities in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). We evaluated the prevalence of anxiety and depression in CSU cases and serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers in CSU patients affected also by psychiatric disorders before and after treatment with omalizumab. Omalizumab induced an improvement of urticaria and concurrent mental comorbidities.