After 6 years with Xolair; a 3-year withdrawal follow-up

Allergy. 2010 Jan;65(1):56-60. doi: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2009.02144.x. Epub 2009 Oct 1.

Abstract

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.

Conclusion: 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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Allergens / immunology
  • Animals
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Asthma / drug therapy*
  • Asthma / immunology
  • Basophils / drug effects*
  • Basophils / immunology
  • Cats
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Forced Expiratory Volume / drug effects
  • Forced Expiratory Volume / immunology
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity / drug therapy
  • Hypersensitivity / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin E / blood
  • Immunoglobulin E / immunology
  • Middle Aged
  • Omalizumab
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Substances

  • Allergens
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents
  • Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Omalizumab
  • Immunoglobulin E