Long-Term Successful Treatment of Indolent Systemic Mastocytosis With Omalizumab
This case study suggests that omalizumab may help prevent anaphylaxis and reduce disease burden associated with systemic mastocytosis, but further studies and formal clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings.
Federal Practitioner. 2021 January;38(01)a:44-48 | 10.12788/fp.0081
Samuel Weiss is an Allergy/Immunology Fellow, and John Hyman is a Pediatrician, both at San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium in Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Geoffrey Carlson is an Allergist, and Christopher Coop is the Program Director of the Allergy/Immunology Fellowship, both at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. Correspondence: Samuel Weiss (samuellweiss@gmail.com)
Author disclosures The authors report no actual or potential conflicts of interest with regard to this article.
Disclaimer The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Federal Practitioner, Frontline Medical Communications Inc., the US Government, or any of its agencies. This article may discuss unlabeled or investigational use of certain drugs. Please review the complete prescribing information for specific drugs or drug combinations—including indications, contraindications, warnings, and adverse effects— before administering pharmacologic therapy to patients.
Conclusions
Omalizumab has proven value in the treatment of atopic conditions, such as asthma and idiopathic urticaria, for which it has been approved for use by the FDA. Its effectiveness in significantly decreasing free serum IgE levels, and inhibiting IgE activation of mast cells makes it a possible treatment option for patients with SM who are not sufficiently controlled with conventional therapy. The findings in this case suggest that omalizumab may be effective in the prevention of anaphylaxis and in the reduction of disease burden associated with SM. Further studies and formal clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings. Patients should be counseled appropriately concerning the risks, benefits, and off-label status of this treatment option.
