title: Omalizumab in patients with severe persistent allergic asthma in a real-life setting in Germany.
abstract: Omalizumab is a humanized monoclonal anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody indicated in Europe for the treatment of uncontrolled severe persistent allergic (IgE-mediated) asthma despite optimal therapy with inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta(2) agonists. Between 2005 and 2007 280 patients (58% female, mean age 44+/-16 yrs., 46% on oral corticosteroids, median serum IgE level 235IU/ml) who met the EU criteria for add-on therapy with anti-IgE were treated prospectively with omalizumab by 134 physicians as part of a post-marketing surveillance trial and were followed-up for 6 months. The median follow-up time was 195 days, the patients were treated with a median dose of 450mg omalizumab every 4 weeks. After 6 months there was a marked effect of omalizumab treatment on daily (-76%) and nocturnal symptoms (-84%), exacerbations (-82%), unscheduled health care contacts (-81%), hospitalizations (-78%) and quality of life (Mini-AQLQ: score increase from 2.9 to 4.5). Overall, efficacy of omalizumab was rated as excellent or good by the majority of physicians (82%) and patients (86%). In 19 patients (7%) omalizumab-related adverse events were recorded. This post-marketing surveillance trial confirms the marked and clinically relevant effect of omalizumab on asthma symptoms and level of asthma control in the majority of patients with severe persistent allergic (IgE-mediated) asthma in a real-life situation.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Dept., Mainz University Hospital, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Korn
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thielen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seyfried
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Taube
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kornmann
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buhl
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000328:Adult; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069444:Omalizumab; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000069444:Omalizumab