To date, the pharmacological activity and clinical benefits of omalizumab have been well described, however several questions still remain unanswered, such as the moment to withdraw the drug as well as the possible biological markers that may be useful to do so. In the present case report, we describe our experience with our dose-reduction protocol in a middle-aged patient and elucidate the usefulness of free IgE levels.
DomingoCPachecoAHinojosaMBosqueM. The relevance of IgE in the pathogenesis of allergy: the effect of an anti-IgE drug in asthma and other diseases. Recent Pat Inflamm Allergy Drug Discov2007; 1:151–64.
2.
DomingoCMorenoAJosé AmengualMMontónCSuárezDPomaresX. Omalizumab in the management of oral corticosteroid-dependent IGE-mediated asthma patients. Curr Med Res Opin2011; 27:45–53.
3.
DomingoCPomaresX. Can omalizumab be effective in chronic eosinophilic pneumonia?Chest2013; 143:274.
4.
DomingoCPomaresXCasabonJGarciaAVeigasCMontónC. Decreasing dose protocol for omalizumab treatment in oral corticosteroid allergic asthma patients. European Respiratory Society Annual Congress, Amsterdam; 2011.
5.
BrarenIGreunkeKPiletteC. Quantitation of serum IgE by using chimeras of human IgE receptor and avian immunoglobulin domains. Anal Biochem2011; 412:134–40.
6.
OwenCE. Immunoglobulin E: role in asthma and allergic disease: lessons from the clinic. Pharmacol Ther2007; 113:121–33.
CorrenJShapiroGReimannJDenizYWongDAdelmanDTogiasA. Allergen skin tests and free IgE levels during reduction and cessation of omalizumab therapy. J Allergy Clin Immunol2008; 121:506–11.
9.
NoppAJohanssonSGAdédoyinJAnkerstJPalmqvistMOmanH. After 6 years with Xolair; a 3-year withdrawal follow-up. Allergy2010; 65:56–60.
10.
WenzelSE. Asthma phenotypes: the evolution from clinical to molecular approaches. Nat Med2012; 18:716–25.
11.
HananiaNAWenzelSRosénK. Exploring the effects of omalizumab in allergic asthma: an analysis of biomarkers in the EXTRA study. Am J Respir Crit Care Med2013; 187:804–11.
12.
DomingoC. Omalizumab for severe asthma: efficacy beyond the atopic patient?Drugs2014; 74(5):521–33.