Background: Severe asthma (SA) with comorbid chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is frequently associated with type 2 (T2) inflammatory endotype. Consequently, therapeutic targets are T2 biologics. The present retrospective study aimed to analyze and compare the clinical efficacy of mepolizumab, benralizumab, omalizumab, and dupilumab in patients with SA and comorbid CRSwNP.
Methods: 115 adult patients with SA and CRSwNP receiving 1 of the 4 biologics (mepolizumab n = 31; benralizumab n = 27; dupilumab n = 27; omalizumab n = 30) were included in the retrospective open monocentric study. Pulmonary and rhinological parameters were evaluated by Asthma Control Test (ACT), FEV1%, GINA-severity grade, rhinological questionnaires (CRS VAS-scores and sinonasal QoL RSOM-31) before and after 4-6 months of therapy.
Results: After 4-6 months of therapy, the Asthma Control Test and FEV1% significantly improved in all biologics groups (p < 0.01). GINA-score significantly improved in the omalizumab group only (p < 0.01). Overall, most nasal scores measured by VAS, total and nasal RSOM-31 subscores improved in all treatment groups (p < 0.05). Interestingly, the most significant differences in pre/post scores were observed in the patients receiving dupilumab, with the most notable improvement for all nasal symptoms, RSOM-31 total score, and RSOM-31 nasal subscore. There were no significant changes in the VAS scores loss of smell in the benralizumab group and postnasal drip in the mepolizumab group.
Conclusion: T2-targeting biologics effectively treat asthma in patients with severe asthma and comorbid CRSwNP. However, the efficacy of T2 biologics differs regarding the outcome in CRSwNP.
Keywords: Biologics; Nasal polyps; Severe asthma; T2 inflammation.
© 2023 The Authors.