Dovilė Karaliūtė¹, Viltė Krištopaitytė¹

¹ Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Academy of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kaunas, Lithuania

Abstract

Background. To elucidate the symptoms, pathogenesis and efficacy of omalizumab in the management of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis described in the literature.

Methods. It is a systematic literature review. Articles were selected using the electronic database PubMed (Medline) describing treatment with omalizumab by entering the key-words „allergy treatment with omalizumab“, „allergic rhinoconjunctyvitis“, „allergic rhinoconjunctyvitis management with omalizumab“, „omalizumab“.

Results. Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis is a common pathology that includes both nasal and ocular symptoms and causes irritation, itching, watery discharge, swelling. The development of this condition is influenced by the formation of specific IgE due to the presence of allergens and allergies usually occur from pollen, dust mites, animals. Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis not only causes unpleasant symptoms, but also affects quality of life. According to the literature, in the case of moderate to severe illness, the symptoms can be particularly frustrating and the usual cure do not produce the desired result, therefore further research is needed to find an effective treatment for these conditions. One of the solutions could be a biological medication, a monoclonal antibody – chimeric protein omalizumab, which is used in treatment of severe asthma and chronic idiopathic urticaria. Studies have shown that this remedy is safe and effective in the treatment of allergic diseases, such as allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and also has been associated with small number of side effects.

Conclusions. Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis causes symptoms that affect a person’s quality of life, especially if the disease is severe or poorly controlled. Biological therapy agent omalizumab is an effective and well – tolerated cure that can not only help manage this allergic condition, but also reduce the need for additional medications.

Keywords: biological therapy, anti – IgE antibodies, omalizumab, allergy, rhinitis, conjunctivitis.