Long-Term Safety of Omalizumab in Children with Asthma and/or Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: A 4-Year Prospective Study in Real Life
Francesca Galletta, Lucia Caminiti, Cecilia Lugarà, Simone Foti Randazzese, Paolo Barraco, Federica D’Amico, Pierangela Irrera, Giuseppe Crisafulli, Sara Manti
Abstract
Background: Insufficient data are available on the long-term “real-life” safety profile of omalizumab in children. This study evaluated the long-term safety of omalizumab in a pediatric cohort with severe asthma or chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). Methods: A monocentric, prospective study evaluated the long-term safety of omalizumab in patients aged 6–18 years. Each patient completed the standardized MedDRA questionnaire to identify adverse events (AEs). Results: In total, 23 patients, median age 15 (14–18) years, affected by severe asthma (60.8%) or CSU (39.2%), treated with omalizumab for 2 (1–4) years were enrolled. The most common AEs belong to the system organ class (SOC) of general disorders and administration-site conditions (37.17%). Skin and subcutaneous tissue problems represent the second most frequently reported AEs (24.35%). Central nervous system and musculoskeletal disorders were quite frequent (15.38% and 8.97%, respectively). Other adverse events were tachycardia (5.12%), vertigo and abdominal pain (2.60% and 3.86%, respectively), and dry eye (1.3%). Only one patient reported herpes virus infection during treatment (1.3%). No cases of anaphylaxis, hemopathies, uronephropathies, respiratory, psychiatric, hepatobiliary, or oncological pathologies were reported. Conclusions: Long-term “real-life” treatment with omalizumab in children appears well tolerated. Its safety and efficacy profile makes omalizumab an excellent alternative in severe asthma and CSU in children.