Biomarkers for Monitoring Treatment Response of Omalizumab in Patients with Chronic Urticaria

Abstract

Chronic urticaria (CU) is a debilitating skin disease affecting around 1% of the population. CU can be subdivided into chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU). Different pathophysiological mechanisms have been proposed to play a role in the development of CU, and these are also being investigated as potential biomarkers in the diagnosis and management of the disease. As of now the only assessment tools available for treatment response are patient reported outcomes (PROs). Although these tools are both validated and widely used, they leave a desire for more objective measurements. A biomarker is a broad subcategory of observations that can be used as an accurate, reproducible, and objective indicator of clinically relevant outcomes. This could be normal biological or pathogenic processes, or a response to an intervention or exposure, e.g., treatment response. Herein we provide an overview of biomarkers for CU, with a focus on prognostic biomarkers for treatment response to omalizumab, thereby potentially aiding physicians in personalizing treatments.