Against all odds: anti-IgE for intrinsic asthma?

Thorax. 2014 Jan;69(1):94-6. doi: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2013-203738. Epub 2013 May 24.

Abstract

For many years, pathogenetic concepts and the results of clinical trials supported the view that anti-IgE treatment is specifically effective in allergic asthma. However, there is now growing clinical and mechanistic evidence suggesting that treatment with the anti-IgE antibody omalizumab can be effective in patients with intrinsic asthma. Therefore, large and well-controlled clinical trials with anti-IgE are urgently warranted in patients with intrinsic asthma. In addition, there is a need to find new biomarkers which can identify patients with asthma who respond to anti-IgE treatment.

Keywords: Asthma; Asthma Mechanisms; Asthma Pharmacology.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / pharmacology
  • Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / pharmacology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use*
  • Asthma / drug therapy*
  • Asthma / immunology*
  • Disease Progression
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate / drug effects
  • Intrinsic Factor
  • Omalizumab

Substances

  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents
  • Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Omalizumab
  • Intrinsic Factor