TY - JOUR
T1 - Real-World Effectiveness and the Characteristics of a "Super-Responder" to Mepolizumab in Severe Eosinophilic Asthma
AU - Kavanagh, Joanne E
AU - Grainne, d'Ancona
AU - Elstad, Maria
AU - Green, Linda
AU - Fernandes, Mariana
AU - Thomson, Louise
AU - Roxas, Cris
AU - Dhariwal, Jaideep
AU - Nanzer, Alexandra M
AU - Kent, Brian D
AU - Jackson, David J
N1 - Copyright © 2020 American College of Chest Physicians. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
PY - 2020/8
Y1 - 2020/8
N2 - Background: Mepolizumab was the first licensed anti-IL5 monoclonal antibody for severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA). To date there are few data to confirm its efficacy in the real-world setting or assessment of baseline characteristics associated with response. Research Question: How do patients with severe eosinophilic asthma respond to mepolizumab in the real world setting and which characteristics are associated with a super-response to this therapy? Study Design and Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of all patients who received at least 16 weeks of treatment with mepolizumab (100 mg subcutaneously) for SEA at our regional asthma center in the United Kingdom. Clinical data were collected at each 4-week visit. At 16, 24, and 52 weeks, patients were classified as “responders” or “nonresponders.” A response was defined as ≥50% reduction in exacerbations; for patients whose condition requires maintenance oral corticosteroids (mOCS), a response was defined as ≥50% reduction in prednisolone dose. Super responders were defined as exacerbation-free and off mOCS at one year. Results: Ninety-nine patients were included in the analysis. Asthma exacerbations decreased from a baseline of 4.04 ± 2.57 to 1.86 ± 2.17 per year at one year (54% reduction; P <.001). Sixty-eight patients were receiving mOCS at the time of commencing mepolizumab. By one year, the daily median dose fell from 10 mg (interquartile range, 10 to 15) to 0 mg (interquartile range, 0 to 10; P <.001). Fifty-seven percent of them were able to discontinue mOCS; 72.7% (95% CI, 63.0 to 80.7) of the patients were classified as responders, and 28.3% (95% CI, 20.2 to 38.0) of the patients were classified as super responders. Baseline characteristics associated with responder and super responder status included the presence of nasal polyposis (P =.012), lower baseline Asthma Control Questionnaire 6 (P =.006), a lower BMI (P =.014), and, in those patients receiving mOCS, a significantly lower prednisolone dose at baseline (P =.005). At 16 weeks, the one-year responder status was correctly identified in 80.8% patients; by 24 weeks, this status rose to 92.9%. Interpretation: In a real-world SEA cohort, treatment with mepolizumab reduced exacerbation frequency and mOCS requirements. Nasal polyposis, a lower BMI, and a lower maintenance prednisolone requirement at baseline were associated with better outcomes. Twelve-month response was identifiable in >90% of patients by week 24.
AB - Background: Mepolizumab was the first licensed anti-IL5 monoclonal antibody for severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA). To date there are few data to confirm its efficacy in the real-world setting or assessment of baseline characteristics associated with response. Research Question: How do patients with severe eosinophilic asthma respond to mepolizumab in the real world setting and which characteristics are associated with a super-response to this therapy? Study Design and Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of all patients who received at least 16 weeks of treatment with mepolizumab (100 mg subcutaneously) for SEA at our regional asthma center in the United Kingdom. Clinical data were collected at each 4-week visit. At 16, 24, and 52 weeks, patients were classified as “responders” or “nonresponders.” A response was defined as ≥50% reduction in exacerbations; for patients whose condition requires maintenance oral corticosteroids (mOCS), a response was defined as ≥50% reduction in prednisolone dose. Super responders were defined as exacerbation-free and off mOCS at one year. Results: Ninety-nine patients were included in the analysis. Asthma exacerbations decreased from a baseline of 4.04 ± 2.57 to 1.86 ± 2.17 per year at one year (54% reduction; P <.001). Sixty-eight patients were receiving mOCS at the time of commencing mepolizumab. By one year, the daily median dose fell from 10 mg (interquartile range, 10 to 15) to 0 mg (interquartile range, 0 to 10; P <.001). Fifty-seven percent of them were able to discontinue mOCS; 72.7% (95% CI, 63.0 to 80.7) of the patients were classified as responders, and 28.3% (95% CI, 20.2 to 38.0) of the patients were classified as super responders. Baseline characteristics associated with responder and super responder status included the presence of nasal polyposis (P =.012), lower baseline Asthma Control Questionnaire 6 (P =.006), a lower BMI (P =.014), and, in those patients receiving mOCS, a significantly lower prednisolone dose at baseline (P =.005). At 16 weeks, the one-year responder status was correctly identified in 80.8% patients; by 24 weeks, this status rose to 92.9%. Interpretation: In a real-world SEA cohort, treatment with mepolizumab reduced exacerbation frequency and mOCS requirements. Nasal polyposis, a lower BMI, and a lower maintenance prednisolone requirement at baseline were associated with better outcomes. Twelve-month response was identifiable in >90% of patients by week 24.
KW - mepolizumab
KW - real-world
KW - severe eosinophilic asthma
KW - super-responder
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85088372235&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.chest.2020.03.042
DO - 10.1016/j.chest.2020.03.042
M3 - Article
C2 - 32275980
SN - 0012-3692
VL - 158
SP - 491
EP - 500
JO - Chest
JF - Chest
IS - 2
ER -
