title: Anti-IgE therapy with omalizumab in asthma and allergic rhinitis.
abstract: The pharmacology, efficacy, dosage, adverse effects, and economics of anti IgE (omalizumab) are discussed. Omalizumab is the generic name for the human/murine chimeric (recombinant humanized) monoclonal IgG antibody. Anti-IgE prevents IgE from attaching to effector cells, and thereby blunts IgE-mediated inflammatory responses. After subcutaneous administration its absorption is slow, reaching peak concentration in serum after an average of 7-8 days. At recommended doses, serum free IgE levels decrease within 1 hour following the first dose and are maintained between doses. Dose and dosing frequency are adjusted according to body mass and serum total IgE concentration before the start of treatment. Omalizumab administered subcutaneously is an effective treatment for add-on therapy in patients with poorly controlled, moderate-to-severe allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis (adults and adolescents > 12 years). It reduces the requirement for inhaled corticosteroids while protecting against disease exacerbation. Omalizumab is well tolerated, but the safety profile requires long-term assessment in adults as well as in children.
authors.affiliation: Special Hospital for Respiratory Diseases in Children and Adolescents, Reference Center for Clinical Pediatric Allergology of the Croatian Ministry of Health Zagreb, Croatia. slavica.dodig@zg.t-com.hr
authors.forename: Slavica
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dodig
authors.forename: Darko
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cepelak
authors.forename: Bojan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Benko
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D000069444:Omalizumab; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000069444:Omalizumab; D007073:Immunoglobulin E