Abstract | OBJECTIVE: PATIENTS AND METHODS: A longitudinal study was conducted on 11 patients affected by severe asthma and a periodic allergic rhinitis. Patients were treated with omalizumab for 24 weeks with a monthly subcutaneous administration at the dosage recommended by the current guidelines. We observed at the start and at the end of treatment: rhinitis symptoms using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS); the state of nasal mucosa with fiberoptic nasal endoscopy; airways inflammation by measuring the Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO); asthmatic symptomatology by means of the Asthma Control Test; the amount of total Ig-E in a blood sample; and the use of symptomatic drugs before and after treatment. RESULTS: VAS scores to measure general symptomatology and symptoms including nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, itching and sneezing were significantly reduced. Turbinate hypertrophy was resolved in six of nine patients. Furthermore, eight patients (73%) reduced or eliminated the use of symptomatic drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Our data confirm the efficacy of omalizumab in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Controlled studies will now have to be carried out to confirm these preliminary data and will specify indications for a very efficacious but still significantly expensive therapy.
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Authors | S Masieri, C Cavaliere, E Begvarfaj, D Rosati, A Minni |
Journal | European review for medical and pharmacological sciences
(Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci)
Vol. 20
Issue 24
Pg. 5249-5255
(12 2016)
ISSN: 2284-0729 [Electronic] Italy |
PMID | 28051241
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic
- Antibodies, Monoclonal
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
- Omalizumab
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Topics |
- Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic
(therapeutic use)
- Antibodies, Monoclonal
(therapeutic use)
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
(therapeutic use)
- Asthma
(drug therapy)
- Humans
- Longitudinal Studies
- Omalizumab
(therapeutic use)
- Pilot Projects
- Rhinitis, Allergic
(therapy)
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