Omalizumab Treatment in Uncontrolled Asthma and CRSwNP Patients, with Previous Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, to Improve Quality of Life and Endoscopic Outcomes: a Two-Year Real-Life Study

• Published in: Current allergy and asthma reports 2023-10, Vol.23 (10), p.555-566
• Main Authors: Maza-Solano, Juan, Callejon-Leblic, Amparo, Martin-Jimenez, Daniel, Moreno-Luna, Ramon, Gonzalez-Garcia, Jaime, Cuvillo, Alfonso, Sanchez-Gomez, Serafin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Allergology; Asthma; Asthma - complications; Asthma - drug therapy; Chronic Disease; Endoscopy; Humans; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Nasal Polyps - complications; Nasal Polyps - drug therapy; Nasal Polyps - surgery; Omalizumab - therapeutic use; Otolaryngology; Quality of Life; Retrospective Studies; Sinusitis - complications; Sinusitis - drug therapy; Sinusitis - surgery; Topical Collection on Rhinosinusitis
• ISSN: 1529-7322; 1534-6315
• DOI: 10.1007/s11882-023-01106-w

Purpose of Review Despite molecular underlying advances, limited and divergent data on monoclonal antibodies (mAb) therapy in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) make further analysis necessary. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of omalizumab as an adjunct to endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) on the treatment of CRSwNP under real-life conditions. Recent Findings Since the introduction of omalizumab, as the first biologic agent for the treatment of diseases such as severe allergic asthma, different studies have demonstrated an effect of omalizumab on CRSwNP, with significant improvements in sinonasal symptoms and endoscopic scores. The high efficacy derived from mAb therapy and the need for ESS prior to mAb recommended by guidelines, has led to compare both therapeutic alternatives, finding discrepancies in their effect on quality of life (QoL) and complementary tests outcomes. Summary Patients with moderate-to-severe asthma with clinical criteria for omalizumab indication, and coexistent CRSwNP disease, were selected for a non-randomized interventional retrospective study into four treatment subgroups. Measures were analyzed and compared between groups and over time at the baseline, 16 weeks and 1 and 2 years after treatment. Omalizumab treatment in patients with previous ESS exhibited an earlier and more pronounced improvement in QoL, symptoms scale and endoscopic findings (nasal polyp score and the bilateral modified Lund-Kennedy) as early from week 16, which improvement persisted for 2 years. A greater mean improvement of 33.4 ± 6.5 (95% CI: 20.3–46.4; p