Efficacy of Benralizumab in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis in real life setting

<bold>Background:</bold> The role played by eosinophils in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) pathogenesis has supported the potential use of Benralizumab, anti- IL5R monoclonal antibody, for the treatment of this patients. <bold>Objectives:</bold> To evaluate the effectiveness of Benralizumab therapy in a real-life setting in terms of asthma symptoms controll, reducing exacerbations rate, improving respiratory function, steroid sparing and maintaining disease clinical remission. <bold>Methods:</bold> We conducted a retrospective, single-centre, 24-month study, including a clinical, functional and biological evaluation at baseline (T0), and subsequently at follow-up visits at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months from the start of anti-IL-5R biological therapy for the treatment of severe eosinophilic asthma. <bold>Results:</bold> 9 EGPA patients affected by severe eosinophilic asthma (females/males: 6/3, mean age 52.8±11.9 yrs) were recruited for the current investigation. Symptoms control improved three months after treatment and persisted during the follow-up visits (ACT score at T0 and at the end of study: 12.38±3.58 and 23.8±0.83, p-value <0.005). The number of asthma exacerbations decreased after the first month of treatment, from 3.88±0.83 at baseline to 0 exacerbations in the last 12 months of evaluation (p-value: 0.0008). Oral corticosteroids use was reduced from the third month of treatment (from 15±7.07 mg/day at T0 to 2.8±2.8 mg/day at the end of study, p=0.003). Moreover, FEV1 (% pred) significantly increased during the observation period, from 68.38±19.82% to 97.5±15.17% (p-value:0.002). <bold>Conclusion:</bold> The current findings demonstrate the efficacy of benralizumab in EGPA patients in real life setting.