RATIONALE: Severe asthma is characterized by inadequate symptom control and by high rate of inflammation despite high doses of steroids. Omalizumab, a recombinant humanized monoclonal anti-IgE, provides a new therapeutic strategy in severe allergic asthma. AIMS: This study was aimed to assess whether long-term treatment with omalizumab improved clinical control in severe asthmatics. METHODS: We investigated omalizumab effects on asthma outcomes evaluating seven severe allergic asthmatic patients who were treated for 7 years with add-on omalizumab. Number of exacerbations, use of antibiotics, additional asthma medications (systemic steroids, nebulized steroids and bronchodilators), and spirometry were analyzed before and after omalizumab treatment. RESULTS: Omalizumab was well tolerated by all the studied patients. It improved FEV1 and FEV1/FVC ratio and reduced symptom score, asthma exacerbations, use of antibiotics, and use of nebulized steroids, bronchodilators, and oral corticosteroids. These effects were evident after 4 years of treatment and more pronounced after 7 years of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This study underlines the utility of a long-term treatment with omalizumab to improve asthma clinical outcomes in severe asthmatics.
RATIONALE: Severe asthma is characterized by inadequate symptom control and by high rate of inflammation despite high doses of steroids. Omalizumab, a recombinant humanized monoclonal anti-IgE, provides a new therapeutic strategy in severe allergic asthma. AIMS: This study was aimed to assess whether long-term treatment with omalizumab improved clinical control in severe asthmatics. METHODS: We investigated omalizumab effects on asthma outcomes evaluating seven severe allergic asthmaticpatients who were treated for 7 years with add-on omalizumab. Number of exacerbations, use of antibiotics, additional asthma medications (systemic steroids, nebulized steroids and bronchodilators), and spirometry were analyzed before and after omalizumab treatment. RESULTS:Omalizumab was well tolerated by all the studied patients. It improved FEV1 and FEV1/FVC ratio and reduced symptom score, asthma exacerbations, use of antibiotics, and use of nebulized steroids, bronchodilators, and oral corticosteroids. These effects were evident after 4 years of treatment and more pronounced after 7 years of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This study underlines the utility of a long-term treatment with omalizumab to improve asthma clinical outcomes in severe asthmatics.
Authors: Olympia A Tsilochristou; Nikolaos Douladiris; Michael Makris; Nikolaos G Papadopoulos Journal: Paediatr Drugs Date: 2013-12 Impact factor: 3.022
Authors: David A Hill; Mark C Siracusa; Michael C Abt; Brian S Kim; Dmytro Kobuley; Masato Kubo; Taku Kambayashi; David F Larosa; Ellen D Renner; Jordan S Orange; Frederic D Bushman; David Artis Journal: Nat Med Date: 2012-03-25 Impact factor: 53.440