Role of Allergen Immunotherapy and Omalizumab as an adjuvant in Asthma remission

Author: Dr. Venkatesh bhat <bold>Background:</bold> Achieving remission in asthma has emerged as the aim in its management. Prevalence of clinical remission achieved with help of allergen immunotherapy and omalizumab as an adjuvant is not well understood <bold>Aim & Objectives:</bold> The study was done to find out role of allergen immunotherapy for all forms of asthma(mild/moderate and severe) along with omalizumab for severe asthma as an adjuvant to ICS & LABA combination in clinical remission of asthma <bold>Methods:</bold> Patients were divided into 3 groups mild(A), moderate(B) and severe(C) asthma with 140, 95 and 52 patients respectively. Allergen immunotherapy buildup phase was for 6 months in all 3 groups and maintenance phase continued throughout the study duration. Treatment with ICS-LABA was as needed in A group and maintenance dose in B and C group. C group patients received treatment with omalizumab for 6 months. In all groups after 6 months patients were shifted to as needed ICS-LABA. Number of patients with clinical asthma remission was assessed in each group. Remission was considered as disappearance of Asthma symptoms with following characteristics: FEV1> 80% of predicted, no use of oral corticosteroids, ACT>20, zero exacerbations. Baseline characteristics was taken into account for all patients <bold>Result:</bold> The prevalence of asthma remission in mild, moderate & severe group was 133 (95%), 66 (70%) and 18(35%) respectively. Presence of rhinitis played a positive role in response to therapy whereas adult onset asthma and old age were characteristics of individuals with suboptimal response to treatment <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Allergen immunotherapy and omalizumab as an adjuvant in management has potential to induce remission in Asthma