Qualitative effects of omalizumab on concomitant IgE-mediated disease in a severe asthmatic population: a real life observational study

Introduction: Omalizumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody (anti-IgE) licensed for use in GINA 5 asthma or for chronic idiopathic urticaria. Many patients with asthma have concomitant allergic diseases such as dermatitis and sinusitis. IgE is also implicated in allergic-bronchopulmonary disease (ABPA). In addition, extreme sensitivity to allergen can prevent the initiation of allergen immunotherapy. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of omalizumab on symptoms of concomitant non asthmatic IgE-mediated allergic disease in a population of severe GINA 5 in a real life observational setting. Design: This study is a retrospective, observational study assessing patients reported allergic, non-asthmatic symptom response to omalizumab treatment. Methods: Fifty-six severe asthmatics treated with omalizumab were studied. Thirty-seven patients had concomitant rhinosinusitis, 13 had dermatitis and 4 ABPA. Subjects were asked to grade the improvement in their symptom scores on an analogue scale from 0 (no response) to 10 (excellent response). Results: Mean improvement from baseline was 5 and 1.8 in patients with allergic rhino-sinusitis and dermatitis, respectively. Mean improvement from baseline in respiratory symptoms in patients with ABPA was 4.0. Conclusions: The results from our study suggest that omalizumab may have a role in allergic disease outside of its current license.