eISSN: 2299-0046
ISSN: 1642-395X
Advances in Dermatology and Allergology/Postępy Dermatologii i Alergologii
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5/2014
vol. 31
 
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abstract:

Original paper
Changes in blood eosinophilia during omalizumab therapy as a predictor of asthma exacerbation

Roman Skiepko
,
Ziemowit Ziętkowski
,
Mateusz Łukaszyk
,
Wojciech Budny
,
Urszula Skiepko
,
Robert Milewski
,
Anna Bodzenta-Łukaszyk

Postep Derm Alergol 2014; XXXI, 5: 305–309
Online publish date: 2014/10/22
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Introduction: Omalizumab is a monoclonal anti-immunoglobulin E antibody developed for the treatment of severe allergic asthma. The number of exacerbations used as a parameter of omalizumab therapy efficacy may be insufficient in many cases due to a relatively short time to first evaluation (16 weeks). Therefore, it is advisable to look for parameters of more prognostic value while continuing omalizumab therapy.

Aim: To evaluate usefulness of analysis of changes of blood eosinophilia after 16 weeks of omalizumab therapy as a predictor of asthma exacerbations.

Material and methods: The study was conducted on a group of 13 patients with severe persistent allergic asthma treated with omalizumab. Blood eosinophil counts were measured before and after 16 weeks of anti-IgE therapy. On the basis of percentage of eosinophilia decrease (> 50% or < 50% of the initial value), patients were divided into two groups. Analysis of the asthma exacerbation rate during 12 months and time to first exacerbation was performed.

Results: In the group with a high decrease in blood eosinophil counts (group 1) we showed a statistically significantly lower asthma exacerbation rate in 12 months compared with the group with a low decrease in blood eosinophil counts (group 2) (p = 0.02). We also observed the tendency to longer time to first asthma exacerbation in group 1 compared to group 2 (p = 0.06).

Conclusions: Our results showed that a decrease in blood eosinophilia during omalizumab therapy can be a predictor of asthma exacerbation. Evaluation of changes in blood eosinophil count should be taken into the consideration while estimating response to anti-IgE therapy in patients with severe allergic asthma.
keywords:

omalizumab, eosinophils, asthma exacerbation

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