23 January 2024 | Giovanna Elisiana Carpagnano, Andrea Portacci, Santi Nolasco, Aikaterini Detoraki, Alessandro Vatrella, Cecilia Calabrese, Corrado Pelaia, Francesca Montagnolo, Giulia Scioscia, Giuseppe Valenti, Maria D'Amato, Maria Filomena Caiaffa, Massimo Triggiani, Nicola Scichilone and Claudia Crimi
This study investigates the clinical features associated with achieving clinical remission (CliR) in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA) treated with anti-IL5/IL5r monoclonal antibodies. A total of 266 patients were analyzed, with 30.5% achieving CliR after 12 months of treatment. Patients who achieved CliR had fewer asthma exacerbations, better lung function, and a higher ACT score compared to those who did not. Factors associated with CliR included better lung function, increased blood eosinophil count, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, and more frequent use of reliever therapy. Conversely, higher BMI, positive skin prick test, increased number of asthma exacerbations before treatment, anti-muscarinic administration, and previous diagnoses of EGPA, bronchiectasis, or osteoporosis were associated with a lower likelihood of achieving CliR. The study also found that changes in exacerbation frequency, OCS use, ACT scores, and FEV1% over time were positively associated with CliR achievement. The results suggest that anti-IL5/IL5r biologics can induce CliR in a subset of patients with SEA, with specific clinical, functional, and inflammatory features associated with remission. The study highlights the importance of identifying these features to better tailor biologic therapy in severe asthma.This study investigates the clinical features associated with achieving clinical remission (CliR) in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA) treated with anti-IL5/IL5r monoclonal antibodies. A total of 266 patients were analyzed, with 30.5% achieving CliR after 12 months of treatment. Patients who achieved CliR had fewer asthma exacerbations, better lung function, and a higher ACT score compared to those who did not. Factors associated with CliR included better lung function, increased blood eosinophil count, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, and more frequent use of reliever therapy. Conversely, higher BMI, positive skin prick test, increased number of asthma exacerbations before treatment, anti-muscarinic administration, and previous diagnoses of EGPA, bronchiectasis, or osteoporosis were associated with a lower likelihood of achieving CliR. The study also found that changes in exacerbation frequency, OCS use, ACT scores, and FEV1% over time were positively associated with CliR achievement. The results suggest that anti-IL5/IL5r biologics can induce CliR in a subset of patients with SEA, with specific clinical, functional, and inflammatory features associated with remission. The study highlights the importance of identifying these features to better tailor biologic therapy in severe asthma.