Response to omalizumab in patients with severe allergic asthma: A real-life study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Response to omalizumab in patients with severe allergic asthma

T2 - A real-life study

AU - Zierau, Louise

AU - Walsted, Emil Schwarz

AU - Thomsen, Simon Francis

AU - Backer, Vibeke

N1 - Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

PY - 2017/10

Y1 - 2017/10

N2 - INTRODUCTION: Omalizumab is a humanized monoclonal anti-IgE antibody, which is widely used for patients with severe uncontrolled asthma. Treatment with omalizumab is known to decrease the number of exacerbations and GETE score (Global Evaluation of Treatment Effectiveness) - but little is known about which patients benefit the most. Moreover, the time to discontinuation of the treatment with omalizumab has yet to be investigated. In this real-life study on a Danish population we explore these important issues.METHOD: In a retrospective real-life study, 54 patients treated with omalizumab at a specialized outpatient asthma clinic were included. Change in GETE score, time to discontinuation of treatment and associated risk factors were analysed.RESULTS: As a result of omalizumab treatment, most patients improved in GETE score from poor/worsening to excellent. Women were treated for a median time of 31 months (95% CI: 4.6-57.4) and approximately 50% of patients discontinued treatment after 500 days whilst, for men, 50% discontinued treatment after 1500 days. Eosinophil count above 300 cells/μL at treatment initiation was positively related to the discontinuation of omalizumab (HR 4.3 95%CI (1.22-15.28) p = 0.023).CONCLUSION: In conclusion, female gender and an eosinophil count above 300 cells/μL may predict a better treatment response, leading to a shorter treatment time than the current guideline recommendation of maximum 48 months. Additionally, the GETE score improves with omalizumab. More real-life studies are needed to determine which patients will benefit the most from the treatment.

AB - INTRODUCTION: Omalizumab is a humanized monoclonal anti-IgE antibody, which is widely used for patients with severe uncontrolled asthma. Treatment with omalizumab is known to decrease the number of exacerbations and GETE score (Global Evaluation of Treatment Effectiveness) - but little is known about which patients benefit the most. Moreover, the time to discontinuation of the treatment with omalizumab has yet to be investigated. In this real-life study on a Danish population we explore these important issues.METHOD: In a retrospective real-life study, 54 patients treated with omalizumab at a specialized outpatient asthma clinic were included. Change in GETE score, time to discontinuation of treatment and associated risk factors were analysed.RESULTS: As a result of omalizumab treatment, most patients improved in GETE score from poor/worsening to excellent. Women were treated for a median time of 31 months (95% CI: 4.6-57.4) and approximately 50% of patients discontinued treatment after 500 days whilst, for men, 50% discontinued treatment after 1500 days. Eosinophil count above 300 cells/μL at treatment initiation was positively related to the discontinuation of omalizumab (HR 4.3 95%CI (1.22-15.28) p = 0.023).CONCLUSION: In conclusion, female gender and an eosinophil count above 300 cells/μL may predict a better treatment response, leading to a shorter treatment time than the current guideline recommendation of maximum 48 months. Additionally, the GETE score improves with omalizumab. More real-life studies are needed to determine which patients will benefit the most from the treatment.

KW - Journal Article

U2 - 10.1016/j.rmed.2017.08.011

DO - 10.1016/j.rmed.2017.08.011

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 28947015

SN - 0954-6111

VL - 131

SP - 109

EP - 113

JO - Respiratory Medicine

JF - Respiratory Medicine

ER -