Article

Long-term omalizumab treatment in severe allergic asthma: the South-Eastern Mediterranean "real-life" experience.

Department of Thoracic Medicine, University Hospital of Heraklion Crete and Medical School, University of Crete, Greece.
Pulmonary Pharmacology &amp Therapeutics (impact factor: 2.8). 12/2011; 25(1):77-82. DOI:10.1016/j.pupt.2011.11.004 pp.77-82
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT Omalizumab is a recombinant humanized anti-IgE monoclonal antibody indicated as an add-on treatment for severe allergic asthma, inadequately controlled despite high dose of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and long-acting b2-agonists.
Medical registries were used to evaluate the 4 months, 1 and 4 years effectiveness of omalizumab treatment, in a non-interventional, observational "real-life" study.
Sixty patients with severe persistent allergic asthma from 5 South-Eastern Mediterranean centres from Crete and Cyprus were evaluated. Effectiveness outcomes included spirometry, severe asthma exacerbations rate, level of asthma control (ACT), and additional asthma medication (inhaled steroids).
Outcome variables improved after 4 months and sustained after 1 and 4 years treatment with Omalizumab. FEV1 improved statistically significant at all time points versus baseline [ΔFEV1 (% pred.) = +21 p = 0.008 at 4 months, ΔFEV1 (% pred.) = +24.5 p < 0.0001 at 4 years after treatment]. Similarly, FVC increased statistically significant versus baseline [ΔFVC (% pred.) = +20 p = 0.002 at 4 months, ΔFVC (% pred.) = +22.6 p = 0.0002 at 4 years]. The level of asthma control as evaluated by ACT was significantly improved after treatment (+12% p = 0.001 at 4 months, +24% p < 0.0001 at 4 years). Omalizumab treatment reduced significantly asthma exacerbations rate (-65% p = 0.0002 at 1 year, and -70% p < 0.0001 at 4 years). The use of inhaled steroids decreased statistically significant after 4 months (p = 0.017), 1 year (p = 0.029) and 4 years (p = 0.014) of omalizumab treatment.
This long-term "real-life" study demonstrated significant improvement in lung function and other clinical outcomes after omalizumab treatment, evident at 4 months, and sustained after 1 and 4 years suggesting its efficacy in severe allergic asthma, in the "real-life" practice.

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    Article: Omalizumab: clinical use for the management of asthma.
    Neil C Thomson, Rekha Chaudhuri
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Omalizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds circulating IgE antibody, is a treatment option for patients with moderate to severe allergic asthma whose asthma is poorly controlled with inhaled corticosteroids and inhaled long-acting β(2) agonist bronchodilators. This review considers the mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, safety and place in management of omalizumab in asthma and focuses particularly on key articles published over the last three years. Omalizumab reduces IgE mediated airway inflammation and its effect on airway remodeling is under investigation. Recent long-term clinical trials confirm the benefits of omalizumab in reducing exacerbations and symptoms in adults and in children with moderate to severe allergic asthma. No clinical or immunological factor consistently predicts a good therapeutic response to omalizumab in allergic asthma. In responders, the duration of treatment is unclear. The main adverse effect of omalizumab is anaphylaxis, although this occurs infrequently. Preliminary data from a five-year safety study has raised concerns about increased cardiovascular events and a final report is awaited. Clinical trials are in progress to determine whether omalizumab has efficacy in the treatment of non-allergic asthma.
    Clinical Medicine Insights: Circulatory, Respiratory and Pulmonary Medicine 01/2012; 6:27-40.
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Keywords

1 year
 
4 months
 
4 years treatment
 
5 South-Eastern Mediterranean centres
 
add-on treatment
 
additional asthma medication
 
baseline [ΔFEV1
 
clinical outcomes
 
Effectiveness outcomes
 
inhaled corticosteroids
 
inhaled steroids
 
long-acting b2-agonists
 
lung function
 
Medical registries
 
Omalizumab treatment
 
recombinant humanized anti-IgE monoclonal antibody
 
severe allergic asthma
 
severe persistent allergic asthma
 
statistically significant
 
time points