title: Qualitative effects of omalizumab on concomitant IgE-mediated disease in a severe asthmatic population: a real life observational study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Omalizumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody (anti-IgE) licensed for use in GINA 5 asthma or for chronic idiopathic urticaria. Many patients with asthma have concomitant allergic diseases such as dermatitis and sinusitis. IgE is also implicated in allergic-bronchopulmonary disease (ABPA). In addition, extreme sensitivity to allergen can prevent the initiation of allergen immunotherapy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of omalizumab on symptoms of concomitant non asthmatic IgE-mediated allergic disease in a population of severe GINA 5 in a real life observational setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study is a retrospective, observational study assessing patients reported allergic, non-asthmatic symptom response to omalizumab treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-six severe asthmatics treated with omalizumab were studied. Thirty-seven patients had concomitant rhino-sinusitis, 13 had dermatitis and 4 ABPA. Subjects were asked to grade the improvement in their symptom scores on an analogue scale from 0 (no response) to 10 (excellent response).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean improvement from baseline was 5 and 1.8 in patients with allergic rhino-sinusitis and dermatitis, respectively. Mean improvement from baseline in respiratory symptoms in patients with ABPA was 4.0.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results from our study suggest that omalizumab may have a role in allergic disease outside of its current license.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Dublin, Ireland cusackruth@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Cusack
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sahadevan
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lane
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D000069444:Omalizumab / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D000069444:Omalizumab; D007073:Immunoglobulin E