title: Anti-IgE in allergic asthma and rhinitis: an update.
abstract: Allergic asthma and rhinitis imposes a huge burden in terms of treatment costs, productivity loss and hospital admissions. IgE plays a significant role in the manifestation of these conditions and the identification of a monoclonal antibody that binds to IgE provides clinicians another therapeutic strategy in the management of these conditions. Blocking the effects of IgE by omalizumab, a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody that selectively binds to IgE has been shown to be a useful adjunct in the treatment of allergic asthma and rhinitis. Omalizumab is effective as a steroid reducing agent in patients with severe asthma and is successful in decreasing asthma exacerbations. Omalizumab was well tolerated in clinical trials, however, the potential long-term side effects need careful monitoring. The high cost of the molecule could make this a therapeutic option in a small proportion of patients in whom there is a large unmet need.
authors.affiliation: Southampton General Hospital, Infection, Inflammation & Repair, Mailpoint 810, Level F, South Block, SO16 7LS, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Jaymin B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Morjaria
authors.forename: Gnanasekaran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gnanakumaran
authors.forename: Kesavan Suresh
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Babu
mesh_terms: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology*; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007073:Immunoglobulin E