Effectiveness and safety of biological therapy in patients with severe asthma in a real clinical practice

Abstract

Aim. To assess effectiveness and safety of biological therapy in patients with severe asthma during 5 yr follow-up. Materials and methods. We recruited 129 adult outpatients (29% males) aged 18–81 yrs with severe asthma were followed up during 5 yrs and were examined for every 3–6 months. Eighty five patients were treated by conventional therapy (ICS/LABA ± tiotropium, montelukast, OCS) only and 44 pts additionally received biologicals (оmalizumab – 9 pts, мepolizumab – 8 pts, benralizumab – 11 pts, dupilumab – 16 pts). Pulmonary function tests were measured by dry spirometer (2120, Vitalograph Ltd., UK). Eosinophil count in blood was assessed by automatic haemoanalyser. Fraction of exhaled nitric oxide was measured by a chemiluminescence analyzer (LR4100; Logan Research, UK). Asthma control and quality of life were assessed by using Russian versions of ACQ-5 and SGRQ. Results. The use of biologicals led to a more significant reduction of exacerbations and OCS use, improvement of lung function, asthma control and quality of life, decrease of eosinophil and fraction of exhaled nitric oxide than conventional therapy of severe asthma (p0.05). Systemic side effects were not registered, frequency of local adverse reactions (edema, hyperemia and itching at injection site) was 14%. Conclusion. Long-term use of biologicals added to conventional therapy in patients with severe asthma is characterized by high effectiveness and favorable safety profile.