Effects of omalizumab therapy on peripheral nerve functions: short observational study

Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is a common neurological condition causing symmetrical and diffuse damage in nerves. The etiology of PN includes systemic diseases, toxic exposure, medications, infections, and hereditary diseases. Omalizumab is a humanized monoclonal anti-IgE antibody that exerts its activity by binding to free IgE in circulation.

To investigate the relationship between omalizumab and peripheral neuropathy.

The study included 30 patients who underwent omalizumab therapy (Xolair) due to the diagnosis of chronic urticaria. A detailed neurological and physical examination was performed in each patient both before and 3 months after the therapy. Electrophysiological examination was also performed using a Medelec Synergy instrument.

The 30 patients included 8 (26.7%) men and 22 (73.3%) women with a mean age of 37.5 ±14.14 years. No serious side effect of the medication was detected in any patient although local wound irritation occurred in 3 (10%) patients. Moreover, no change occurred in the pre-treatment Neuropathy Symptom Score (NSS) or Neurological Disability Score (NDS) of the patients and no pathological values that could result in neuropathy were observed during motor/sensory nerve conduction. However, significant changes were detected in the sensory and motor components of the nerves with regards to pre- and post-treatment values.

Omalizumab therapy caused no peripheral neuropathy in any of our patients but altered the latency, amplitude, and velocity values of the peripheral nerves.