Is aspirin desensitization indicated for the treatment recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis in aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease?

Background Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) affects 7% of asthmatics. Usual therapies are inadequate for asthma and/or nasal polyposis, leading to decreased quality of life. Objective Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of dupilumab in AERD patients with uncontrolled, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP). Methods Patients 18 years and older with a physician diagnosis of AERD and sino-nasal outcome test 22 (SNOT 22) score ≥19 despite standard medical therapy were eligible for the study. Patients received one month of placebo dosing, followed by 6 months of dupilumab. Patients were blinded to the order of therapy. Wilcoxon-paired rank sum test was used to compare study outcomes at baseline and the completion of the study. Results Ten patients completed the study. The median baseline SNOT 22 score improved from 46 [IQR: 34 to 64.8] to 9.5 [IQR: 2.5 to 19] after 6 months of therapy (p = 0.0050). The median baseline Lund MacKay score improved from 21.5 [IQR: 17 to 23.3] to 4 [IQR: 1.2 to 6] after 6 months of therapy (p = 0.0050). There was also improvement in the following secondary outcomes: asthma control test (ACT), mini asthma quality of life questionnaire (AQLQ), and University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification test (UPSIT). Exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), total serum IgE, 24-hour urinary leukotriene E4, and serum thymus and activation regulated cytokine (TARC) also decreased. There were no significant study-related adverse events. Conclusion Dupilumab was highly effective as add-on therapy for CRSwNP in AERD, improving patient-reported outcomes, sinus opacification, and markers of T2 inflammation.

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Aspirin Sensitivity and Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Polyps: A Fatal Combination

Journal of Allergy ◽

10.1155/2012/817910 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Hendrik Graefe ◽

Christina Roebke ◽

Dirk Schäfer ◽

Jens Eduard Meyer

Keyword(s):

Chronic Rhinosinusitis ◽

Respiratory Disease ◽

Clinical Features ◽

Nasal Polyposis ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Molecular Pathogenesis ◽

Surgical Interventions ◽

Aspirin Sensitivity ◽

Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease ◽

Lower Airways

Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) refers to aspirin sensitivity, chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), nasal polyposis, asthma, eosinophil inflammation in the upper and lower airways, urticaria, angioedema, and anaphylaxis following the ingestion of NSAIDs. Epidemiologic and pathophysiological links between these diseases are established. The precise pathogenesis remains less defined, even though there is some progress in the understanding of several molecular mechanisms. Nevertheless, these combinations of diseases in patients classified by AERD constitute a fatal combination and may be difficult to treat with standard medical and surgical interventions. This paper reviews in brief the epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, molecular pathogenesis, and specific therapies of patients classified by AERD and postulates future attempts to gain new insights into this disease.

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