The effect of COVID‐19 on patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria treated with omalizumab and antihistamines: A cross‐sectional, comparative study

Abstract Introduction Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is defined as recurrent attacks of urticaria present for more than six weeks. The monoclonal anti‐immunoglobulin E antibody, omalizumab, was approved for the treatment of CSU in patients who remain refractory to H1‐antihistamines. Biologic agents are shown not to increase the risk of COVID‐19 infection in different studies. Objective In the present study, we aimed to determine the prevalance of COVID‐19 infection in relation to the age, gender, presence of other comorbidities, and treatment given for CSU. Methods We conducted a descriptive cross‐sectional study of 233 patients diagnosed with CSU in a tertiary referral hospital. Demographical data, treatment given for CSU, the presence of COVID‐19‐related symptoms, history of close contact to a person with COVID‐19 and COVID‐19 real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) results were determined via a telephone survey and checked from medical data records. Results One hundred sixty patients were female; whereas 73 were male. The mean age was 44.76. Out of 233 patients with chronic urticaria, 125 had symptoms related to COVID‐19 infection. RT‐PCR testing for COVID‐19 was performed in 156 patients. Of 156 patients with COVID‐19 RT‐PCR test, RT‐PCR result was positive in 15 cases. Conclusions No statistically significant relationship was found between COVID‐19 RT‐PCR positivity and the type of treatment administered for chronic urticaria when the patients are divided into omalizumab ± oral antihistamines and only oral antihistamines treatment groups ( p = 0.150). Omalizumab seems to be safe in the era of COVID‐19.