Clinical Experience with Anti-IgE Monoclonal Antibody (Omalizumab) in Pediatric Severe Allergic Asthma—A Romanian Perspective

Abstract

Background: Asthma is the most common chronic disease affecting children, with a negative impact on their quality of life. Asthma is often associated with comorbid allergic diseases, and its severity may be modulated by immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergen sensitization. Omalizumab is a humanized monoclonal anti-IgE antibody, the first biological therapy approved to treat patients aged ≥6 years with severe allergic asthma. The primary objective of our study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of Omalizumab in Romanian children with severe allergic asthma. Methods: In this observational real-life study, 12 children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years (mean 12.4 years) with severe allergic asthma received Omalizumab as an add-on treatment. Asthma control, exacerbations, lung function, and adverse events were evaluated at baseline and after the first year of treatment. Results: We observed general improvement in total asthma symptom scores and reduction in the rate of exacerbation of severe asthma. Omalizumab treatment was associated with improvement in the measures of lung function, and no serious adverse reactions were reported. FEV1 improved significantly after one year of treatment with Omalizumab [ΔFEV1 (% pred.) = 18.3], and [similarly, ΔMEF50 (%) = 25.8]. The mean severe exacerbation rate of asthma decreased from 4.1 ± 2.8 to 1.15 ± 0.78 (p < 0.0001) during the year of treatment with Omalizumab. Conclusions: This study showed that Omalizumab can be an effective and safe therapeutic option for Romanian children and adolescents with severe allergic asthma, providing clinically relevant information on asthma control and exacerbation rate in children and adolescents. The results demonstrated the positive effect of Omalizumab in young patients with asthma, starting from the first year of treatment.

The Role of Mannose-Binding Lectin and Inflammatory Markers in Establishing the Course and Prognosis of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Children

“…Measurement of the MBL level at the onset of an infection is particularly recommended in children at high risk. For patients with significant comorbidities, such as asthma [50], congenital heart malformations [51], and chronic kidney disease [52], a timely and appropriate therapeutic approach is vital, as any acute infective episode can lead to potentially life-threatening decompensation. The blood level of MBL at the onset of an infection can identify deficiency, indicating higher risk, and thus ensure the selection of optimal treatment for this vulnerable patient group.…”

Persistent Asthma in Childhood

“…In the paper by Berghea et al [ 5 ], the efficacy of treatment with the monoclonal anti-IgE antibody, Omalizumab, was tested in 12 Romanian children with severe persistent allergic asthma aged 6–18 years. During the 1-year treatment, they observed a decrease in severe exacerbations, FEV1, MEF50, eosinophil count, and ICS use.…”