title: Profile of patients treated with omalizumab in routine clinical practice in Spain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Omalizumab is indicated in patients with severe allergic asthma not controlled by high-dose inhaled glucocorticoids and long-acting beta-agonists. Few data are available on the profile of patients treated with this drug in routine clinical practice in Spain.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the profile of patients with severe allergic asthma treated with omalizumab and the course of the disease after a period of treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective, multicentre study, recording the data on patients of either sex and ≥12 years with uncontrolled severe allergic asthma, previously treated with omalizumab. Data were evaluated in relation to pulmonary function, symptoms, quality of life, and concomitant anti-asthma treatment before the prescription of omalizumab and at the time of the study visit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  214 patients were evaluable (mean age=48.2±17.7 years; mean age at the time of diagnosis=26.6±16.5 years). 90.7% had experienced exacerbations the year before receiving omalizumab, and the mean total IgE level was 273±205.4IU/ml. The mean monthly dose was 380.5±185.4mg. Compared with the baseline situation, differences were observed after treatment with omalizumab in mean FEV1 (62.7±15.9% vs. 70.8±18.7%), in the proportion of patients requiring oral corticosteroids (47.7% vs. 14.0%), and in the ACQ and AQLQ scores. 32.7% of the patients received doses not recommended by the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Profile of asthmatic patients treated with omalizumab predominantly corresponds to uncontrolled severe asthma cases, in accordance with SPC's indications. The results of the study suggest a favourable clinical course similar to that observed in other studies.
authors.affiliation: Hospital de la Princesa, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ancochea
authors.affiliation: Hospital Central de la Defensa, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chivato
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Silicosis-Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Facultad de Medicina, Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Casan
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Picado
authors.affiliation: Departamento Médico, Novartis farmacéutica S.A. Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: Lys.herraez@novartis.com.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Herráez
authors.affiliation: Departamento Médico, Novartis farmacéutica S.A. Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Casafont
mesh_terms: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069444:Omalizumab; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000069444:Omalizumab