Effectiveness of omalizumab therapy in patients with highly severe allergic asthma treated in Department of Pulmonology in Krakow

Publication date: Available online 2 December 2016
Source:Alergologia Polska - Polish Journal of Allergology
Author(s): Agnieszka Gawlewicz-Mroczka, Weronika Zastrzeżyńska, Marek Przybyszowski, Adam Cmiel, Krzysztof Sładek
Immunoglobulin E plays an important role in allergic diseases. In patients with allergic asthma, exposure to allergens releases a wide range of proinflamatory mediators, which are responsible for acute and chronic symptoms of the disease. IgE has become an attractive target in allergic asthma. In 2006, in Europe omalizumab became available.ObjectivesOur knowledge of who will derive the highest benefit from omalizumab therapy is still limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of omalizumab during one year of therapy carried out under real-life conditions in Polish patients with severe allergic asthma. We also attempted to identify predictors for very good responses to treatment.MethodsWe enrolled 15 patients due to inclusion criteria of the program for severe allergic asthma funded by the National Health Insurance. All the patients were assessed for asthma control, quality of life, daily dose of oral and inhaled corticosteroids, asthma exacerbation rate, and lung function. The effectiveness of the treatment was analyzed after 16 weeks and one year following the inclusion each patient to the therapy. The patients were divided into two groups according to their response to the treatment: very good and good, based on the GETE scale.ResultsOmalizumab decreased the severity of symptoms, improved asthma control and quality of life in patients. It helped to reduce episodes of asthma exacerbation and the use of systemic corticosteroids. At present, the overall assessment by physicians is still the best and most reliable method of identifying responders to the omalizumab therapy.



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