Improvement in Olfaction in Patients With CRSwNP and Severe Asthma Taking Anti-IgE and Anti-IL-5 Biologics: A Real-Life Study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), which is characterized by partial loss of smell (hyposmia) or total loss of smell (anosmia), is commonly associated with asthma and/or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-exacerbated respiratory disease (N-ERD). CRSwNP worsens disease severity and quality of life. The objective of this real-world study was to determine whether biological treatments prescribed for severe asthma can improve olfaction in patients with CRSwNP. A further objective was to compare the improvement in in olfaction in N-ERD and non-N-ERD subgroups.

METHODS:

We performed a multicenter, noninterventional, retrospective, observational study of 206 patients with severe asthma and CRSwNP undergoing biological treatment (omalizumab, mepolizumab, benralizumab, or reslizumab).

RESULTS:

Olfaction improved after treatment with all 4 monoclonal antibodies (omalizumab [35.8%], mepolizumab [35.4%], reslizumab [35.7%], and benralizumab [39.1%]), with no differences between the groups. Olfaction was more likely to improve in patients with atopy, more frequent use of short-course systemic corticosteroids, and larger polyp size. The proportion of patients whose olfaction improved was similar between the N-ERD (37%) and non-N-ERD (35.7%) groups.

CONCLUSIONS:

This is the first real-world study to compare improvement in olfaction among patients undergoing long-term treatment with omalizumab, mepolizumab, reslizumab, or benralizumab for severe asthma and associated CRSwNP. Approximately 4 out of 10 patients reported a subjective improvement in olfaction (with nonsignificant differences between biologic drugs). No differences were found for improved olfaction between the N-ERD and non-N-ERD groups.

• Authors: B Barroso, M Valverde-Monge, I Alobid, J M Olaguibel, M J Rial, S Quirce, E Arismendi, P Barranco, D Betancor, I Bobolea, B Cárdaba, M J Cruz Carmona, E Curto, J Domínguez-Ortega, F J González-Barcala, C Martínez-Rivera, I Mahíllo-Fernández, X Muñoz, C Picado, V Plaza, J M Rodrigo Muñoz, L Soto-Retes, A Valero, V Del Pozo, J Mullol, J Sastre
• Journal: Journal of investigational allergology & clinical immunology (J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol) Vol. 33 Issue 1 Pg. 37-44 (Feb 17 2023) ISSN: 1018-9068 [Print] Spain
• PMID: 35416154 (Publication Type: Observational Study, Multicenter Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Omalizumab
• anti-IgE antibodies
• Biological Products
• Immunosuppressive Agents

Topics

• Humans
• Omalizumab (therapeutic use)
• Nasal Polyps (complications, drug therapy)
• Smell
• Biological Products (therapeutic use)
• Anosmia (complications, drug therapy)
• Quality of Life
• Retrospective Studies
• Asthma (complications, drug therapy)
• Immunosuppressive Agents (therapeutic use)
• Sinusitis (complications, drug therapy)
• Chronic Disease
• Rhinitis (complications, drug therapy)