"Real-life" Efficacy and Safety Aspects of Four-year Omalizumab Treatment for Asthma

Objective: To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of omalizumab in asthma in a real-life setting. Subjects and Methods: This was a 4-year observational study that included 65 patients treated with omalizumab during clinic visits; treatment response was rated as excellent, good and partial based on modified GETE (mGETE) scale. of emergency room visits (ERV), hospitalization, use of oral corticosteroids, inhaled corticosteroids/ long acting beta-agonist (ICS/LABA) dose, and short acting beta-agonist (SABA) rescue. The following tests: forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), asthma control test (ACT) were done. Measurements were done one month before therapy, at 16 weeks,1 and 4 years. Statistical analysis were done using Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Spearman ’s rank correlation coefficient and McNemar’s χ2-test. Results: The drop-out rate was 15(18.5%); non-responders: 8(10.0%); died: 2(2.5%) and were lost to follow-up: 5(6.25%). Treatment response; excellent: 35(53.8%); good: 23(35.4%) and partial: 7(10.8%). The excellent responders increased fr om 35(53.8%) at 16 weeks to 48(73.8%) after 4 years of treatment. Significantly patients who did not require ERV improved from zero to 59(90.8%), and lowest rate of hospitalization was 1 in year 4(p
Source: Medical Principles and Practice - Category: Internal Medicine Source Type: research