Omalizumab in recurring larynx angioedema: a case report

Case Report  Open Access

Asia Pac Allergy. 2014 Apr;4(2):129-130. English. Published online 2014 April 29.  http://dx.doi.org/10.5415/apallergy.2014.4.2.129  Copyright © 2014. Asia Pacific Association of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology. Ayse Bilge Ozturk,1 and Emek Kocaturk2 1Adult Allergy Unit, Göztepe Tainning and Research Hospital, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Istanbul 34469, Turkey. 2Department of Dermatology, OkmeydanGı Trainning and Research Hospital, Istanbul 34126, Turkey. Correspondence: Ayse Bilge Ozturk. Adult Allergy Unit, Göztepe Tainning and Research Hospital, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Istanbul 34469, Turkey. Tel: +90 5434336679, Fax: +90 2165664065, Email:aysebilgeozturk@yahoo.com  Received August 23, 2013; Accepted January 06, 2014. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. 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. Formats: Abstract Article PubReader PDF References