Both exhaled nitric oxide and blood eosinophil count were associated with mild allergic asthma only in non-smokers

Objective: This study aimed to explore the usefulness of the peripheral blood eosinophil count (PBEC) in assessing the level of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and predicting bronchodilation test results. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 384 outpatients who underwent FeNO measurement at our Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine from March to June 2019. The FeNO level was compared among different PBECs to explore the association among them. Furthermore, the sensitivity and specificity of PBECs in predicting bronchodilation test results were assessed by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: There was a moderate correlation between PBECs and FeNO levels (r = 0.414; p < 0.05). In the subjects with PBECs ≥ 0.3 × 109/L, the median FeNO level was 39 ppb (interquartile range, 22.5‐65.5 ppb), significantly higher than in the subjects with PBECs < 0.3 × 109/L. The area under the ROC curve was 0.707 (p < 0.05). The maximum Youden index (0.348) was at PBECs = 0.205 × 109/L, which achieved sensitivity and specificity of 63% and 71.8%, respectively. Conclusion: PBECs ≥ 0.3 × 109/L can predict a positive bronchodilation test result and a high FeNO level, with a probability of 50% in the subjects with chronic cough and shortness of breath; in the absence of corresponding symptoms and a low PBEC, the predictive value was small. For hospitals not able to conduct FeNO measurements, for outpatients with poor economic conditions, and for patients with confirmed or suspected novel coronavirus disease 2019, the PBEC, in conjunction with a patient's clinical symptoms, can improve the diagnostic accuracy of allergic asthma and assessment of airway inflammation while reducing the risk of infection.

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Omalizumab effectiveness in patients with severe allergic asthma according to blood eosinophil count: the STELLAIR study

European Respiratory Journal ◽

10.1183/13993003.02523-2017 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 51 (5) ◽

pp. 1702523 ◽

Cited By ~ 69

Author(s):

Marc Humbert ◽

Camille Taillé ◽

Laurence Mala ◽

Vincent Le Gros ◽

Jocelyne Just ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Allergic Asthma ◽

Eosinophil Count ◽

Response Rate ◽

Real Life ◽

Blood Eosinophil ◽

Exacerbation Rate ◽

Blood Eosinophil Count ◽

Life Study ◽

Severe Allergic Asthma ◽

Blood Eosinophils

Omalizumab is a monoclonal anti-IgE antibody used to treat severe allergic asthma (SAA). The aim of the STELLAIR study was to determine the importance of pre-treatment blood eosinophil count as a predictive measure for response to omalizumab.This retrospective real-life study was conducted in France between December 2015 and September 2016 using medical records of SAA omalizumab-treated patients. Response to omalizumab was assessed by three criteria: physician evaluation, reduction of ≥40% in annual exacerbation rate and a combination of both. Response rate was calculated according to blood eosinophil count measured in the year prior to omalizumab initiation.872 SAA omalizumab-treated patients were included by 78 physicians (723 adults (age ≥18 years) and 149 minors (age 6–17 years)). Blood eosinophil count was ≥300 cells·µL−1 in 52.1% of adults and 73.8% of minors. By physician evaluation, 67.2% of adults and 77.2% of minors were responders and 71.1% adults and 78.5% minors had a ≥40% reduction in the exacerbation rate. In adults, the response rate for combined criteria was 58.4% (95% CI 53.2–63.4%) for blood eosinophils ≥300 cells·µL−1 (n=377) and 58.1% (95% CI 52.7–63.4%) for blood eosinophils <300 cells·µL−1 (n=346).This study shows that a large proportion of patients with SAA have a blood eosinophil count ≥300 cells·µL−1, and suggests that omalizumab effectiveness is similar in “high” and “low” eosinophil subgroups.

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Real-life effects of benralizumab on allergic chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis associated with severe asthma

International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology ◽

10.1177/2058738420950851 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 34 ◽

pp. 205873842095085 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Nicola Lombardo ◽

Corrado Pelaia ◽

Marco Ciriolo ◽

Marcello Della Corte ◽

Giovanna Piazzetta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Allergic Asthma ◽

Chronic Rhinosinusitis ◽

Severe Asthma ◽

Eosinophil Count ◽

Nasal Polyposis ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Real Life ◽

Blood Eosinophil ◽

Blood Eosinophil Count ◽

Snot 22

The aim of this study has been to evaluate the efficacy of the IL-5 receptor blocker benralizumab on chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP), associated with severe eosinophilic allergic asthma. Ten patients with severe eosinophilic allergic asthma and CRSwNP were enrolled. Sino-nasal outcome test (SNOT-22), numerical rating scale (NRS), endoscopic nasal polyp score, Lund Mackey CT (computed tomography) score, and blood eosinophil count were measured at baseline and after 24 weeks of treatment with benralizumab. All the above clinical, endoscopic, imaging, and hematological parameters significantly improved after 24 weeks of treatment with benralizumab. In particular, SNOT-22 decreased from 61.10 ± 17.20 to 26.30 ± 19.74 ( P < 0.001), NRS decreased from 7.20 ± 1.55 to 3.40 ± 2.22 ( P < 0.001), the endoscopic polyp nasal score decreased from 4.20 ± 1.32 to 2.50 ± 1.78 ( P < 0.001), the Lund-Mackay CT score decreased from 16.60 ± 5.50 to 6.90 ± 5.99 ( P < 0.001), and blood eosinophil count decreased from 807.3 ± 271.1 cells/μL to 0 cells/μL ( P < 0.0001). These results strongly suggest that benralizumab exerted a very effective therapeutic action on CRSwNP associated with severe asthma, thus improving nasal symptoms and decreasing polyp size.

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