ABSTRACT
Introduction: The increase in drugs available for severe uncontrolled asthma and the lifestyle of these patients make it necessary to implement self-administration programs of these therapies at home. Benralizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting IL5R, was authorized in Spain for poorly controlled severe eosinophilic asthma. The possibility of administration at home was approved in March 2020 in Spain. The aim of the Auto-Benra study was to evaluate the usability and satisfaction of the benralizumab prefilled syringe and autoinjector and assessing the effectivity of these devices in uncontrolled severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA) in home-self administration. Methods: This is a retrospective, observational multicenter study uncontrolled SEA patients treated with benralizumab at least with 3 doses self-administered at home before April 30, 2021. Reliability and satisfaction with benralizumab at home were evaluated with subcutaneous administration assessment questionnaire (SQAAQ) and visual analogic scales (VAS). Effectiveness was evaluated in all patients with asthma control test (ACT), Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (MiniAQLQ), annual exacerbation rate, oral corticosteroid treatment (OCS) and asthma-related hospitalizations and emergency visits. Results: Fifty-four patients across 9 hospitals in Spain were included. The mean SQAAQ score was 6.89 (±0.16) points. Patients and their caregivers and doctors report excellent satisfaction by VAS, with no differences between benralizumab devices used (prefilled syringe and autoinjector). Severe exacerbation rate decreased by 65% (p = 0.0007) after benralizumab treatment. ACT score improved on average 6.27 ± 5.35 points (p < 0.0001) and the mean MiniAQLQ increased up to 1.58 ± 1.47 points (p < 0.0001). Twenty-four patients were OCS-dependent and at the end of study 14 patients get complete OCS withdrawal. Conclusion: AUTO-BENRA study supports the use of benralizumab at home given the excellent results of satisfaction and usability by patients and their caregivers.
ABSTRACT
We report a case of a patient affected by severe eosinophilic asthma with nasal polyps (SEA+NP) who developed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) six months after starting benralizumab as add-on therapy. Both SEA and NP were under control with no exacerbations at the time of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The patient was hospitalized for four months, during which the treatment with benralizumab was interrupted. Despite the onset of bilateral interstitial pneumonia, developed as a consequence of the SARS-CoV-2 infection, the patient was discharged without complications, with a significant improvement in the chest CT scan following the administration of systemic corticosteroids (SCS) and low-flow oxygen therapy. The treatment with benralizumab was reintroduced at the regular dosing regimen immediately after his discharge. Lung function was assessed three months after the discharge and showed normal levels as before the development of COVID-19 symptoms. A long-term follow-up after 26 months from the introduction of benralizumab showed a normal lung function and well-controlled asthma, without exacerbations or the need for corticosteroid bursts.
ABSTRACT
Severe asthma can be associated with eosinophilic or allergic phenotypes or both. Eosinophilic inflammation is associated with exacerbations and disease severity due to biological activity of interleukin-5 (IL-5). Patients with severe asthma have reported reduced lung function and poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and may require systemic corticosteroids for its management. Thus, treatment targeting IL-5 can help improve quality of life and reduce the use of systemic corticosteroids in severe asthma. Mepolizumab is approved for treating severe eosinophilic asthma as it helps reduce exacerbations, improve lung function and asthma control, and reduce the use of systemic glucocorticoids. This further helps in enhancing HRQoL of these patients. This case series includes four adult patients suffering from severe eosinophilic asthma who were treated with mepolizumab.