Effectiveness and Response Predictors of Omalizumab in Treating Patients with Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis: A Real-World Study

Abstract

Background: Omalizumab has been proven effective and safety in treating seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) by several randomized clinical trials in many countries. However, there is lack of clinical reports of Chinese patients with SAR treated by omalizumab. Objective: In the present real-world-designed study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of omalizumab in treating patients with SAR. Methods: SAR patients administered omalizumab in various dosages were recruited, and follow-up was done. Their quality of life (QOL) and symptoms were assessed by the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ), Total Nasal Symptoms Score (TNSS), Asthma Control Test (ACT), and clinical outcomes were compared between postand pre-treatment conditions. Results: Sixty SAR patients received omalizumab therapy in the study (mean age 35.47 ±17.02 years, 35 females). Omalizumab treatment significantly improved the quality of life (change in RQLQ overall score: −2.08±1.01, paired t-test p<0.001) and nasal symptoms (change in TNSS: −7.33±2.50, paired t-test p<0.001) of SAR patients. In 21 patients with coexisting asthma, the ACT score significantly increased from 16.10 to 22.57 on average (paired t-test p<0.001), indicating better-controlled asthma. Using a threshold of ≥1 point improvement in RQLQ overall score, 83.3% of patients responded to omalizumab. The responder group had a higher baseline RQLQ score and TNSS (p<0.05), but both responders and non-responders had comparable scores after treatment. Multiple linear regression analysis identified the baseline RQLQ overall score as a predictor of change in the RQLQ score in omalizumab-treated SAR. Conclusion:Omalizumab is effective and safe in SAR treatment in a real-world setting.

Combination of omalizumab with allergen immunotherapy versus immunotherapy alone for allergic diseases: A meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials

“…A total of 474 results were filtered out of electronic databases (Figure 1). Forty‐two full‐text 22–32,35–65 publications were assessed for eligibility, and 31 articles 33,40–69 were excluded. Among the excluded, one registered Cochrane trial 69 was unfinished; twelve conference abstracts 56–67 had no full details; ten trials 33,40–48 met no inclusion criteria, in which the study by Takahashi et al 33 .…”

“…Forty-two full-text [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32] publications were assessed for eligibility, and 31 articles 33, were excluded. Among the excluded, one registered Cochrane trial 69 was unfinished; twelve conference abstracts [56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67] had no full details; ten trials 33,[40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48] met no inclusion criteria, in which the study by Takahashi et al 33 was deleted from meta-analysis because no untreated children passed the double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge from the start of the study. Therefore, the trial did not pass ethical approval and was changed into an unblinded trial, 33 which might have artificially increased TMD and SU to allergens.…”

Biodeterioration of carbographic ribbon: Isolation, identification of causal agents and forensic implications

“…Here, we refer to the case of an individual that was affected by oculomycosis who was suspected to have been exposed for a long period to a confined environment with high A. infectoria contamination (Ma et al, 2021). The individual cited was the same suspect that used the typewriter to write all of the 36 scripts that were the objects of these studies, and this suspect used the typewriter for long intervals of time.…”

Highlights of the treatment of allergic rhinitis according to Chinese guidelines

“…It is recommended to those with IgE-induced allergic asthma combined with severe allergic rhinitis, when allergen avoidance and conventional medications are ineffective [46]. Although omalizumab has not been approved for treating allergic rhinitis alone in China, its efficacy and safety in alleviating nasal symptoms and improving QoL of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis have been validated in a real-world study [47]. Interestingly, the introduction of omalizumab into rush immunotherapy for dust mite-sensitized allergic rhinitis and/or asthma achieves effects significantly superior to those of AIT alone, including better compliance and probably a faster onset of action, with comparable safety and no additional costs [48 ▪ ].…”