Omalizumab 'relieves' aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease
Small crossover study results suggest drug might be an important therapeutic candidate, researchers say
Omalizumab reduces aspirin hypersensitivity and lowers leukotriene E4 levels in patients with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD), according to results of a small study.
Japanese researchers evaluated the efficacy of omalizumab against the overproduction of leukotriene E4 (LTE4) following aspirin challenge, severe upper and lower respiratory symptoms, and aspirin hypersensitivity in a crossover trial of 16 patients (median age, 53 years) with AERD.
Compared with the placebo phase, there was a significant reduction in the overall production of LTE4 following oral