PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Francisco J Navarro-Triviño
AU  - Jose Maria Llamas-Molina
AU  - Angela Ayen-Rodriguez
AU  - Barbara Cancela-Díez
AU  - Ricardo Ruiz-Villaverde
TI  - Dramatic improvement of bullous pemphigoid with omalizumab in an elderly patient
AID  - 10.1136/ejhpharm-2020-002418
DP  - 2020 Sep 12
TA  - European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy
PG  - ejhpharm-2020-002418
4099  - http://ejhp.bmj.com/content/early/2020/09/12/ejhpharm-2020-002418.short
4100  - http://ejhp.bmj.com/content/early/2020/09/12/ejhpharm-2020-002418.full
AB  - A 70-year-old man with a history of hypertension was evaluated in our dermatology department due to the appearance of a clinical picture compatible with bullous pemphigoid that was confirmed histologically. The lack of response to topical and systemic immunosuppressive treatment resulted in omalizumab being prescribed in a multidisciplinary committee based on the clinical and analytical findings and the patient’s refusal to be treated with rituximab. The evaluation at 3 months showed the absence of blisters on the clinical examination. No associated adverse effects were observed. In the following 3 months the patient was administered medication at home in the absence of an anaphylactic reaction and with prior training by the nursing staff of the Hospital Pharmacy Service. After 6 months the medication was suspended with no relapses for 6 months since the last dose. Omalizumab, an anti-IgE monoclonal drug which has a good safety profile with minimum adverse side effects should be considered when there is a contraindication to the use of intravenous therapies (eg, immunoglobulins, rituximab) or prolonged immunosuppressive treatment (eg, methotrexate, azathioprine).