Authors' objectives: To assess the available evidence on the efficacy, safety and coverage related aspects regarding omalizumab in the management of asthma. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the lung with upper airway hyperreactivity. In Argentina, its prevalence is 5.98%. Eighty percent of the patients present allergic asthma. The symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath and cough secondary to bronchoconstriction and increased mucus production. It is diagnosed by means of history taking, physical examination and positive response to short-acting beta-agonists during a spriometry. Omalizumab is proposed as the last step in the management of persistent allergic asthma. Omalizumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody, which binds to free IgE, thus preventing its interaction with effector cells.

Authors' recommendations: Evidence of moderate methodological quality shows that the use of omalizumab in persistent, moderate to severe allergic asthma may potentially reduce the number of exacerbations, the use of oral corticoids and patient symptoms. The information in children is not enough; there are no studies beyond one-year follow-up. Furthermore, no studies comparing omalizumab with active treatments have been found. There is consensus about its use in the surveyed clinical practice guidelines and coverage policies, especially in individuals over 12 years old with persistent IgE-mediated allergic asthma, who are frequently or continuously using corticoids.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2015

URL for published report: http://www.iecs.org.ar/publicacion/?id=5363

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Argentina

Organisation Name: Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy

Contact Address: Dr. Emilio Ravignani 2024, Buenos Aires - Argentina, C1414 CABA

Contact Name: info@iecs.org.ar

Contact Email: info@iecs.org.ar

Copyright: Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (IECS)