R P Cusack1, A Sahadevan2, S J Lane2. 1. Department of Respiratory Medicine, Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Dublin, Ireland cusackruth@hotmail.com. 2. Department of Respiratory Medicine, Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Omalizumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody (anti-IgE) licensed for use in GINA 5 asthma or for chronic idiopathic urticaria. Many patients with asthma have concomitant allergic diseases such as dermatitis and sinusitis. IgE is also implicated in allergic-bronchopulmonary disease (ABPA). In addition, extreme sensitivity to allergen can prevent the initiation of allergen immunotherapy. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of omalizumab on symptoms of concomitant non asthmatic IgE-mediated allergic disease in a population of severe GINA 5 in a real life observational setting. DESIGN: This study is a retrospective, observational study assessing patients reported allergic, non-asthmatic symptom response to omalizumab treatment. METHODS: Fifty-six severe asthmatics treated with omalizumab were studied. Thirty-seven patients had concomitant rhino-sinusitis, 13 had dermatitis and 4 ABPA. Subjects were asked to grade the improvement in their symptom scores on an analogue scale from 0 (no response) to 10 (excellent response). RESULTS: Mean improvement from baseline was 5 and 1.8 in patients with allergic rhino-sinusitis and dermatitis, respectively. Mean improvement from baseline in respiratory symptoms in patients with ABPA was 4.0. CONCLUSIONS: The results from our study suggest that omalizumab may have a role in allergic disease outside of its current license.
INTRODUCTION:Omalizumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody (anti-IgE) licensed for use in GINA 5 asthma or for chronic idiopathic urticaria. Many patients with asthma have concomitant allergic diseases such as dermatitis and sinusitis. IgE is also implicated in allergic-bronchopulmonary disease (ABPA). In addition, extreme sensitivity to allergen can prevent the initiation of allergen immunotherapy. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of omalizumab on symptoms of concomitant non asthmatic IgE-mediated allergic disease in a population of severe GINA 5 in a real life observational setting. DESIGN: This study is a retrospective, observational study assessing patients reported allergic, non-asthmatic symptom response to omalizumab treatment. METHODS: Fifty-six severe asthmatics treated with omalizumab were studied. Thirty-seven patients had concomitant rhino-sinusitis, 13 had dermatitis and 4 ABPA. Subjects were asked to grade the improvement in their symptom scores on an analogue scale from 0 (no response) to 10 (excellent response). RESULTS: Mean improvement from baseline was 5 and 1.8 in patients with allergic rhino-sinusitis and dermatitis, respectively. Mean improvement from baseline in respiratory symptoms in patients with ABPA was 4.0. CONCLUSIONS: The results from our study suggest that omalizumab may have a role in allergic disease outside of its current license.