After 6 years with Xolair; a 3-year withdrawal follow-up.
BACKGROUND
This study reports the clinical and immunological state of patients 3 years after a 6-year period of Xolair treatment for severe allergic asthma.


METHODS
The patient's cat allergen sensitivity, measured as CD-sens, IgE and IgE- and IgG4 antibodies, was analysed and compared with asthma severity evaluated from FEV(1) and a questionnaire.


RESULTS
Three years after treatment with Xolair was stopped, 12/18 patients reported improved or unchanged asthma compared with ongoing Xolair treatment. Most of the patients were in a stable clinical condition, 16/18 had not increased nightly asthma attacks and 14/18 little or no increase in medication. The CD-sens to cat was still significantly lower (P < 0.02) than untreated patients with allergic asthma and lower than expected from their serum IgE antibody levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Most of the patients in this study had, still 3 years after closing of 6 years Xolair treatment, a surprisingly mild and stable asthma. Interestingly, the observed, considerable, downregulation of basophil allergen sensitivity, CD-sens, most likely representing mast cell allergen sensitivity, contributed to the clinical results.
Department of Medicine, Clinical Immunology and Allergy Unit, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Anna
A
Nopp
S G O
SG
Johansson
J
J
Adédoyin
J
J
Ankerst
M
M
Palmqvist
H
H
Oman
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D001491:Basophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D002415:Cats; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069444:Omalizumab; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000485:Allergens; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000069444:Omalizumab; D007073:Immunoglobulin E