BACKGROUND: Long-term oral corticosteroid (OCS) therapy is associated with significant burden on patients and healthcare resources; treatments that may help reduce their use are important to improve asthma management. METHODS: French and German clinicians prescribing omalizumab for >16 weeks to patients with severe persistent allergic asthma collected OCS use data. OCS use was recorded at baseline and at a non-specific time point beyond 16 weeks from initiation of omalizumab. The number of asthma exacerbations (FEV(1) < 60% of personal best, requiring OCS burst and unscheduled doctor/emergency visit or hospitalization) and asthma-related hospitalizations during the 12-months prior to omalizumab treatment and during the observation period were also recorded. RESULTS: Overall, 346 patients were treated with omalizumab for >16 weeks. Of these, 166 (48.0%) were receiving maintenance OCS (France, n = 64; Germany, n = 102). Following omalizumab therapy, 84 (50.6%) patients on OCS at baseline reduced/stopped OCS dose at the time of data collection; 34 (20.5%) stopped and 50 (30.1%) reduced OCS. In all patients receiving maintenance OCS at baseline, mean reduction from baseline in daily OCS dose was 29.6% (7.1 mg prednisolone). In patients who reduced/stopped maintenance OCS, mean reduction from baseline in daily OCS dose was 74.3% (15.4 mg prednisolone). Reductions in exacerbations and hospitalizations were observed from the 12-months prior to baseline in patients at the time of data collection, irrespective of change in OCS dose. CONCLUSION: European real-life experience demonstrates the OCS-sparing potential of omalizumab in some patients with severe allergic (IgE-mediated) asthma.
BACKGROUND: Long-term oral corticosteroid (OCS) therapy is associated with significant burden on patients and healthcare resources; treatments that may help reduce their use are important to improve asthma management. METHODS: French and German clinicians prescribing omalizumab for >16 weeks to patients with severe persistent allergic asthma collected OCS use data. OCS use was recorded at baseline and at a non-specific time point beyond 16 weeks from initiation of omalizumab. The number of asthma exacerbations (FEV(1) < 60% of personal best, requiring OCS burst and unscheduled doctor/emergency visit or hospitalization) and asthma-related hospitalizations during the 12-months prior to omalizumab treatment and during the observation period were also recorded. RESULTS: Overall, 346 patients were treated with omalizumab for >16 weeks. Of these, 166 (48.0%) were receiving maintenance OCS (France, n = 64; Germany, n = 102). Following omalizumab therapy, 84 (50.6%) patients on OCS at baseline reduced/stopped OCS dose at the time of data collection; 34 (20.5%) stopped and 50 (30.1%) reduced OCS. In all patients receiving maintenance OCS at baseline, mean reduction from baseline in daily OCS dose was 29.6% (7.1 mg prednisolone). In patients who reduced/stopped maintenance OCS, mean reduction from baseline in daily OCS dose was 74.3% (15.4 mg prednisolone). Reductions in exacerbations and hospitalizations were observed from the 12-months prior to baseline in patients at the time of data collection, irrespective of change in OCS dose. CONCLUSION: European real-life experience demonstrates the OCS-sparing potential of omalizumab in some patients with severe allergic (IgE-mediated) asthma.
Authors: Christian Domingo; Xavier Pomares; Albert Navarro; María José Amengual; Concepción Montón; Ana Sogo; Rosa M Mirapeix Journal: Br J Clin Pharmacol Date: 2017-12-01 Impact factor: 4.335
Authors: Eleonora Dehlink; Barbara Platzer; Alexandra H Baker; Jessica Larosa; Michael Pardo; Peter Dwyer; Elizabeth H Yen; Zsolt Szépfalusi; Samuel Nurko; Edda Fiebiger Journal: PLoS One Date: 2011-04-22 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Christian Lupinek; Kurt Derfler; Silvia Lee; Thomas Prikoszovich; Oliver Movadat; Eva Wollmann; Carolin Cornelius; Milena Weber; Renate Fröschl; Regina Selb; Katharina Blatt; Dubravka Smiljkovic; Volker Schoder; René Cervenka; Thomas Plaichner; Gottfried Stegfellner; Hans Huber; Rainer Henning; Justyna Kozik-Jaromin; Thomas Perkmann; Verena Niederberger; Ventzislav Petkov; Peter Valent; Adelheid Gauly; Hans Peter Leinenbach; Ingrid Uhlenbusch-Koerwer; Rudolf Valenta Journal: EBioMedicine Date: 2017-02-12 Impact factor: 8.143