Background: Omalizumab is a humanized monoclonal anti-immunoglobulin E antibody, approved for the treatment of spontaneous chronic urticaria, with high efficacy and an excellent safety profile. Although its adverse effects are rare, allergic reactions and cardiovascular events were previously described.
Case summary: The authors describe the case of a 75-year-old woman, followed at the outpatient dermatology clinic due to spontaneous chronic urticaria, treated with omalizumab 300 mg every 4 weeks. After the 11th administration of omalizumab, the patient developed an episode of thoracalgia associated with electro- and echocardiographic abnormalities. Coronary angiogram excluded coronary artery disease, and left ventriculography demonstrated mid-apical akinesia and basal hyperkinesia, consistent with the Takotsubo syndrome (TS).
Discussion: Takotsubo syndrome was already reported in association with other monoclonal antibodies. However, to our knowledge, this is the first case of TS following the administration of omalizumab.
Keywords: Case report; Left ventricular dysfunction; Omalizumab; Takotsubo syndrome.