Use of Omalizumab in children in real clinical practice

Abstract

Omalizumab, is the first targeted biologic therapeutic approved for the treatment of moderate and severe persistent uncontrolled asthma.

The aim: was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Omalizumab as additive treatment in children with severe uncontrolled asthma in real clinical practice.

Materials and methods: 23 children with severe uncontrolled atopic asthma aged from 6 to 18 years were included in this study. Examination included studying clinical data, level of total IgE, eosinophil count, skin tests, spirometry, chest X-ray, oxygen saturation monitoring, Childhood Asthma Control Test, Asthma Control Test. Patients were treated with Omalizumab once every four weeks. The duration of follow-up was from 1 to 5 years.

Results: The average age of the patients was 10.5 years±2.23 (6-11 years - 34.8%, 12-17 years - 65.2%). The duration of Omalizumab therapy was different: 1-2 years-39.1% children, 3-4 years-47.8% children, more than 5 years-13.1% children. 95.6% children have demonstrated positive dynamics for 12 months of therapy with Omalizumab. 82.6% patients achieved full control of asthma symptoms. 95.6% of patients had a decrease in the amount of antiinflammatory therapy (60.9% of patients changed therapy from LABA/ICS to monotherapy with ICS in medium doses, in 26.1% children the dose of ICS in the combined LABA/ICS was reduced from high to medium), decrease in total IgE, increased physical activity, reduced exacerbations. Serious adverse events were not observed.

Conclusions: Omalizumab is effective and safe in real clinical practice as addition to baseline therapy in severe uncontrolled asthma. It lowers the risk of exacerbations, achieves of control of asthma symptoms and improves quality of children’s life.