[Targeted immunologic therapies for severe asthma].
Better understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of asthma have made it possible to envision a large number of new treatment targets. Clinical trials assessing some of these targets were recently published. The results of these trials were often disappointing. For example, parenteral administration of anti-interleukin-5 antibodies diminished bronchial eosinophilic inflammation but without improving either asthma symptoms or bronchial hyperreactivity. Other treatments are promising but have not yet been proved effective in patients with asthma: open studies with anti-TNF alpha antibodies are interesting but the efficacy of this treatment strategy remains uncertain and must be validated against placebo. The first targeted treatment approved for severe difficult-to-control allergic asthma is an anti-IgE monoclonal antibody (omalizumab).
Humbert
Marc
M
Service de pneumologie et réanimation respiratoire, AP-HP, Hôpital Antoine Béclère, Université Paris Sud, F-92140 Clamart, France. marc.humbert@abc.aphp.fr
Garcia
Gilles
G
Chanez
Pascal
P
D000906:Antibodies / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000906:Antibodies