Purpose Pulmonary involvement is common in adults with scleroderma. The effect of concomitant obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on risk for pulmonary hypertension in scleroderma is unknown. An enlarged main pulmonary artery diameter (mPAD) derived from chest computer tomography (CT) is a useful predictor of pulmonary hypertension. We addressed the effect of OSA on pulmonary involvement and enlarged mPAD in adults with scleroderma. Methods All participants underwent pulmonary function testing, carbon monoxide diffusion capacity, chest CT, and overnight sleep recording with home sleep apnea testing. OSA diagnosis was based on an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 15/h. Oxygen desaturation index (ODI) was also recorded. Scleroderma involvement of the lungs was defined as the Warrick score ≥ 7 based on the CT findings. Enlarged mPAD was defined as an mPAD ≥ 29 mm in men and ≥ 27 mm in women. Results After exclusions, 62 patients (58 women) were included. OSA was found among 20 (32%), 17/42 (38%) in the limited cutaneous type, and 3/20 (15%) in the diffuse cutaneous type (p = 0.08). Scleroderma involvement of the lungs was observed in 40 participants (65% in OSA vs 64% in no-OSA; n.s.). Enlarged mPAD was measured in 16 participants, 10 of 20 (50%) in the OSA group and 6 of 17 (14%) in the no-OSA group (p = 0.003). OSA was associated with enlarged mPAD (odds ratio 4.7, 95% confidence interval 1.1-20.9; p = 0.042) independent of age, body mass index, and pulmonary involvement. There was a linear relationship between mPAD and AHI (r = 0.37; p = 0.003) as well as ODI (r = 0.41; p < 0.001). Conclusions In this cohort, OSA was associated with risk for pulmonary hypertension independent of pulmonary involvement. These findings suggest that assessing the effect of therapy for concomitant OSA in patients with scleroderma is warranted. Trial registration NCT 02740569

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Approximately 1-third of patients with severe asthma are candidates for both omalizumab and mepolizumab treatment. We aimed to compare the clinical, spirometric and inflammatory efficacy of these 2 biologics in atopic and eosinophilic “overlap” severe asthma patients. In our 3-center retrospective cross-sectional observational study, the data of patients who received omalizumab or mepolizumab for at least 16 weeks to treat severe asthma were examined. Atopic (perennial allergen sensitivity and total IgE level 30–1500 IU/mL) and eosinophilic (blood eosinophil counts ≥150 cells/µL in admission; or ≥300 cells/µL in the previous year) patients with asthma suitable for both biologics were included in the study. Post-treatment changes in the asthma control test (ACT) score, number of attacks, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and eosinophil count were compared. The rates of any biological responder patient were compared according to whether they had high eosinophil counts (≥500 cells/µL vs <500 cells/µL). Total of 181 patients data were evaluated, of the 74 atopic and eosinophilic overlap patients included in the study, 56 were receiving omalizumab and 18 were receiving mepolizumab. When omalizumab and mepolizumab treatment efficacies were compared, there was no difference in terms of the reduction in attacks and improvement in ACT. The decrease in eosinophil levels in patients in the mepolizumab arm was significantly higher than that in patients in the omalizumab arm (46.3% vs 87.8%; P < .001). The improvement in FEV1 was greater with mepolizumab treatment, although the difference was not significant (215 mL vs 380 mL; P = .053). It has been shown that having high eosinophil counts does not affect the clinical and spirometric responder patient rates for either biological condition. The success of omalizumab and mepolizumab treatment is similar in patients with atopic and eosinophilic overlap with severe asthma. However, because the baseline patient inclusion criteria are not compatible, head-to-head studies comparing both biological agents are required.

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Effectiveness of mepolizumab in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma: In a real life study Introduction We analyzed the effects of mepolizumab treatment on symptoms, asthma attacks, pulmonary function test parameters peripheral blood eosinophil level, and percentage in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma receiving mepolizumab treatment as the baseline, sixth and twelfthmonth data. Materials and Methods The medical records of patients diagnosed with severe eosinophilic asthma and treated with mepolizumab at our clinic were retrospectively reviewed for the period between January 2018 and December 2021. Demographic data of the patients, duration of asthma disease, comorbidities such as a nasal polyp, eosinophilic granulomatous polyangiitis, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug exacerbated respiratory disease were investigated. A comparison was made of various factors before initiating mepolizumab treatment, as well as at the sixth and twelfth month after treatment initiation. These factors include asthma control test scores, frequency of asthma attacks (including emergency admissions, hospitalizations, and intensive care admissions), peripheral blood eosinophil levels and percentages, and pulmonary function test parameters. Clinic and laboratory parameters that provide a prediction of being a responder and super responder were evaluated. Results A total of 21 patients were included in the study. Their mean age was 50.7 ± 11.9 years, and four (19%) were males. The mean duration of asthma diagnosis was 17.5 ±13.7 years. 14 patients (66.7%) were atopic. 4 patients (19%) had nasal polyps and four patients (19%) had NERD. Before mepolizumab, 13 (61.9%) patients had received omalizumab. The duration of receiving mepolizumab treatment was 29.2 ± 9.9 months. A statistically significant dec rease was observed in both the number and percentage of eosinophils at months six and 12 (p< 0.01). There was a statistically significant increase in FEV 1 values both as a percentage and in milliliters at month 12. There was an increase in both percentage and milliliters in FEF 25-75 values, but this increase did not reach statistical significance. There was a decrease in service admissions, intensive care admissions, and emergency admissions due to asthma exacerbations. Out of 21 patients, 11 (52.4%) were classified as responders, while 10 (47.6%) were classified as super responders. Conclusion Although the number of patients in our study was limited, mepolizumab improved symptom scores in severe eosinophilic asthma, reduced the number of attacks, and improved pulmonary function test values.