ICS use trajectories in severe asthma patients on benralizumab: real-life data from 3-years follow-up
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Inhaled steroids dose reduction is a relevant goal in severe asthma management. RESEARCH QUESTION: We aimed to investigate ICS use trajectories and their clinical impact in severe asthma patients on benralizumab over 36 months. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective real-life observational study including clinical and inflammatory parameters. Patients were stratified according to ICS dose trends over time: "stable" (same dose at ≥80 % of visits), "decreasing" (≥50 % of visits with lower ICS dose vs baseline), and "increasing" (≥50 % of visits with higher ICS dose vs baseline). RESULTS: remained stable. An overall statistically significant improvement was observed also for ACT, ACQ, AQLQ and annual exacerbation rate. The probability of decreasing ICS dose was 19.0 % at 12 months and 37.4 % at 36 months. In the decreasing group (30 % of the cohort), baseline blood eosinophil count (BEC) was higher than in the stable group, and BEC suppression over time was greater. The decreasing group was also less frequently treated with OCS at baseline. At 24 months, the stable group showed a greater reduction in OCS use compared to the decreasing group. Across all groups, OCS use dropped from 89.8 % to 4.9 % at 36 months. INTERPRETATION: The findings suggest that ICS tapering is feasible and safe in selected patients under benralizumab therapy. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first real-life study specifically supporting the ICS-sparing effect of benralizumab over a 36-month period.
Source: Respiratory Medicine
Authors: Laura Pini, Marco Caminati, Matteo Maule, Diego Bagnasco, Bianca Beghè, Benedetta Bondi, Fulvio Braido, Paolo Cameli, Cristiano Caruso, Claudia Crimi, Yehia El Masri, Jordan Giordani, Gabriella Guarnieri, Manuela Latorre, Andrea Mastrototaro, Francesco Menzella, Claudio Micheletto, Alessandro Pini, Stefano Piras, Antonio Spanevello, Andrea Vianello, Dina Visca, Martina Zappa, Marco Zurlo, Pierluigi Paggiaro, Francesco Blasi, Giorgio Walter Canonica, Gianenrico Senna, Roberto Benoni
Institutions: Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale degli Spedali Civili di Brescia, University of Brescia, University of Verona, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Policlinico "G.Rodolico - San Marco", University of Padua, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, University of Insubria, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, University of Pisa, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Humanitas University, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Modena
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,630
OpenAlex ID: W4411195548