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 aspirin challenge, the primary endpoint, during the omalizumab phase, the researchers report in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

The urinary levels of LTE4 at each time point after oral aspirin challenge were significantly lower in the omalizumab phase than in the placebo phase.