Real-World Effectiveness of Anti-IL-5/5R Therapy in Severe Atopic Eosinophilic Asthma with Fungal Sensitization

A comparison of the impact of anti-IL5/5r therapies in allergic versus non-allergic patients with severe eosinophilic asthma in a real-life setting

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to compare the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of allergic patients (AP) and non-allergic patients (NAP) with severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA) treated with anti-IL5/IL5R biologic agents (mepolizumab, benralizumab, or reslizumab) over one year. Sub-analyses assessed treatment response variations between AP and NAP based on the biological used and compared outcomes among AP with and without fungal allergy.

METHODS

Observational retrospective analysis. Clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, pulmonary function tests, Asthma Control Test (ACT) scores, oral corticosteroid (OCS) usage, and exacerbation frequency were assessed at the initiation of biological treatment and after one year.

RESULTS

Sixty-five patients with SEA were included, 41 AP and 24 NAP. 55.4% were treated with mepolizumab, 33.8% with benralizumab, and 10.8% with reslizumab. Before anti-IL5/5R treatment, AP had worse baseline outcomes but there were no differences in pulmonary function. Mean annual exacerbation rate and percentage of patients requiring OCS and dose of prednisone were higher in AP than NAP. AP had significantly higher total IgE values. After one year of treatment, more AP discontinued OCS than NAP (p = 0.025). Both experienced a significant reduction in exacerbation frequency (p = 0.001) and improved respiratory function. 70.7% of AP and 60% of NAP improved ACT ≥3 points. There was no significant difference between AP and NAP using mepolizumab (p = 0.145) or benralizumab (p = 0.174) in reducing OCS.

CONCLUSIONS

Anti-IL5/IL5R reduced the need for OCS and improved asthma control, regardless of allergic status. Fungal allergy led to lower ACT scores and higher exacerbations than other allergens; both groups improved with anti-IL5/ILR.

Effectiveness of benralizumab in the Tokyo Asthma Study (TOAST): A real-world prospective interventional trial

BACKGROUND

Biologics are integral in the management of severe asthma. As the effectiveness of the anti-IL-5 receptor antibody benralizumab in Japan remains elusive, this study aimed to assess its real-world effectiveness in Japanese patients with severe asthma.

METHODS

This prospective, interventional, single-arm clinical trial was conducted across ten facilities in Japan between September 2020 and July 2022. Adult patients with severe eosinophilic asthma (peripheral blood eosinophil count ≥150 cells/μl) were enrolled and treated with benralizumab. The primary endpoint was the change in ACQ-5 score from baseline to week 24.

RESULTS

Of 103 patients, 98 (mean age: 62.1 years, women: 55.1 %, regular oral corticosteroids [OCS] treatment: 20.4 %) were included in the analysis. From baseline to week 24, benralizumab significantly improved ACQ-5 (-0.67, 95 % CI: -0.94 to -0.39) and AQLQ (0.71, 95 % CI: 0.46 to 0.96) scores with an increase in FEV1 (87 ml, 95 % CI: 15-159 ml). The maintenance OCS dose and the percentage of OCS users decreased from 13.9 mg/day to 6.0 mg/day and from 20.4 % to 9.2 %, respectively. Multivariable analysis identified baseline blood eosinophil count (≥400 cells/μl) and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (≥22 ppb) as independent predictors of therapeutic response to benralizumab. Benralizumab treatment was discontinued due to nonserious adverse events and patient choice in four and three patients, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In a real-world setting in Japan, patients with severe eosinophilic asthma treated with benralizumab demonstrated substantial improvements in asthma control, quality of life, and respiratory function with reduced OCS usage.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCTs031190237).

Fungal lung disease

Fungal lung disease encompasses a wide spectrum of organisms and associated clinical conditions, presenting a significant global health challenge. The type and severity of disease are determined by underlying host immunity and infecting fungal strain. The most common group of diseases are associated with the filamentous fungus Aspergillus species and include allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, sensitisation, aspergilloma and chronic and invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Fungal lung disease remains epidemiologically heterogenous and is influenced by geography, environment and host comorbidities. Diagnostic modalities continue to evolve and now include novel molecular assays and biomarkers; however, persisting challenges include achieving rapid and accurate diagnosis, particularly in resource-limited settings, and in differentiating fungal infection from other pulmonary conditions. Treatment strategies for fungal lung diseases rely mainly on antifungal agents but the emergence of drug-resistant strains poses a substantial global threat and adds complexity to existing therapeutic challenges. Emerging antifungal agents and increasing insight into the lung mycobiome may offer fresh and personalised approaches to diagnosis and treatment. Innovative methodologies are required to mitigate drug resistance and the adverse effects of treatment. This state-of-the-art review describes the current landscape of fungal lung disease, highlighting key clinical insights, current challenges and emerging approaches for its diagnosis and treatment.

Relationship between Aspergillus and asthma

Fungal sensitization is highly prevalent in severe asthma. The relationship between fungus and asthma, especially Aspergillus fumigatus, has been the subject of extensive research. The ubiquitous presence of A. fumigatus, its thermotolerant nature, the respirable size of its conidia, and its ability to produce potent allergens are pivotal in worsening asthma control. Due to the diverse clinical manifestations of fungal asthma and the lack of specific biomarkers, its diagnosis remains intricate. Diagnosing fungal asthma requires carefully assessing the patient's clinical history, immunological tests, and imaging. Depending on the severity, patients with fungal asthma require personalized treatment plans, including inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators, and antifungal therapy. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the association between Aspergillus and asthma by reviewing the relevant literature and highlighting key findings. We discuss the diagnosis of various entities included in fungal asthma. We also debate whether newer definitions, including allergic fungal airway disease, offer any additional advantages over the existing ones. Finally, we provide the current treatment options for the individual entities, including A. fumigatus-associated asthma, severe asthma with fungal sensitization, and allergic bronchopulmonary mycoses.

Management of comorbidities in difficult and severe asthma

Difficult-to-treat and severe asthma are challenging clinical entities. In the face of suboptimal asthma control, the temptation for clinicians is to reflexively escalate asthma-directed therapy, including increasing exposure to corticosteroids and commencement of costly but potent biologic therapies. However, asthma control is objectively and subjectively assessed based on measurable parameters (such as exacerbations or variability in pulmonary physiology), symptoms and patient histories. Crucially, these features can be confounded by common untreated comorbidities, affecting clinicians' assessment of asthma treatment efficacy.

Mepolizumab in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis complicated by infection

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is an allergic reaction caused by the fungus Aspergillus, and it is often treated with steroids or antifungal agents. However, long-term use of these medications can lead to infections and drug interactions. We present the case of a 71-year-old woman with ABPA who was diagnosed with hepatitis B and active hepatitis C, and sputum analysis revealed the presence of bacteria. Oral steroids were initially administered, but the patient was switched to mepolizumab because of numerous infectious complications. The early introduction of mepolizumab is effective in patients with ABPA complicated by infectious diseases.

Real-world effectiveness of benralizumab in US subspecialist-treated adults with severe asthma: Findings from CHRONICLE

BACKGROUND

Patients with eosinophilic severe asthma (SA) have an increased risk of asthma exacerbations. Benralizumab is approved for eosinophilic SA, and there is great value in understanding real-world effectiveness.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this analysis was to examine the effectiveness of benralizumab in a real-world cohort of subspecialist-treated US patients with eosinophilic SA.

METHODS

CHRONICLE is an ongoing, noninterventional study of subspecialist-treated US adults with SA receiving biologics, maintenance systemic corticosteroids, or those persistently uncontrolled by high-dose inhaled corticosteroids with additional controllers. For this analysis, eligible patients enrolled from February 2018 to February 2021, had received ≥1 dose of benralizumab, and had study data for ≥3 months before and after benralizumab initiation. The primary analysis included patients with prior exacerbations reported and 12 months of outcomes data before and after initiation. Patient outcomes occurring 6-12 months before and after initiation were also evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 317 patients had ≥3 months of follow-up before and after first benralizumab dose. For patients with 12 months (n = 107) and 6-12 months (n = 166) of data, significant reductions were observed in annualized rates of exacerbations (62%; P < 0.001 and 65%; P < 0.001, respectively), with similar reductions in the rates of hospitalizations and emergency department visits. Benralizumab recipients with blood eosinophil counts (BEC) of ≥300/μL and <300/μL at baseline and 12 months of data also had significant reductions in exacerbations (68%; P < 0.001, 61%; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

This real-world, noninterventional analysis reinforces the clinical value of benralizumab in the management of patients with eosinophilic SA.

Prevalence of Aspergillus Sensitization and Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis in Adults With Bronchial Asthma: A Systematic Review of Global Data

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) in asthmatic patients remains unclear and is likely different across geographic locales.

OBJECTIVE

To systematically review the literature for estimating the prevalence of Aspergillus sensitization (AS) and ABPA in adults with bronchial asthma.

METHODS

We searched the PubMed and Embase databases for studies reporting the prevalence of AS or ABPA in at least 50 asthmatic subjects. The primary outcome was to assess the prevalence of ABPA. The secondary outcome was to evaluate the prevalence of AS in asthma and that of ABPA in asthma with AS. We pooled the prevalence estimates using a random-effects model and examined the factors influencing the prevalence using multivariate meta-regression.

RESULTS

Of the 11,801 records retrieved, 86 studies with 25,770 asthmatic subjects met the inclusion criteria. Most of the studies were from tertiary care centers. The pooled prevalence of ABPA in asthma (47 studies; 9822 asthmatic subjects) was 11.3% (95% CI, 8.7-14.2). The pooled prevalence of AS in asthma (73 studies; 23,003 asthmatic subjects) was 25.1% (95% CI, 20.5-30.0), whereas the prevalence of ABPA in AS (36 studies; 2954 asthmatic subjects) was 37.0% (95% CI, 27.9-46.6). Multivariate meta-regression identified studies published from India (odds ratio, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.01-1.23) as the only factor associated with higher ABPA prevalence. There was presence of significant statistical heterogeneity and publication bias.

CONCLUSIONS

We found a high prevalence of ABPA in adult asthmatic subjects, underscoring the need for screening for ABPA in all asthmatic subjects seeking tertiary care.

Clinical Manifestations of Human Exposure to Fungi

Biological particles, along with inorganic gaseous and particulate pollutants, constitute an ever-present component of the atmosphere and surfaces. Among these particles are fungal species colonizing almost all ecosystems, including the human body. Although inoffensive to most people, fungi can be responsible for several health problems, such as allergic fungal diseases and fungal infections. Worldwide fungal disease incidence is increasing, with new emerging fungal diseases appearing yearly. Reasons for this increase are the expansion of life expectancy, the number of immunocompromised patients (immunosuppressive treatments for transplantation, autoimmune diseases, and immunodeficiency diseases), the number of uncontrolled underlying conditions (e.g., diabetes mellitus), and the misusage of medication (e.g., corticosteroids and broad-spectrum antibiotics). Managing fungal diseases is challenging; only four classes of antifungal drugs are available, resistance to these drugs is increasing, and no vaccines have been approved. The present work reviews the implications of fungal particles in human health from allergic diseases (i.e., allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, severe asthma with fungal sensitization, thunderstorm asthma, allergic fungal rhinosinusitis, and occupational lung diseases) to infections (i.e., superficial, subcutaneous, and systemic infections). Topics such as the etiological agent, risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment will be revised to improve the knowledge of this growing health concern.

Severe Fungal Asthma: A Role for Biologics and Inhaled Antifungals

Allergic asthma has traditionally been treated with inhaled and systemic glucocorticosteroids. A continuum of allergic fungal airways disease associated with Aspergillus fumigatus colonization and/or atopic immune responses that encompasses fungal asthma, severe asthma with fungal sensitization and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is now recognized along a phenotypic severity spectrum of T2-high immune deviation lung disease. Oral triazoles have shown clinical, anti-inflammatory and microbiologic efficacy in this setting; in the future inhaled antifungals may improve the therapeutic index. Humanized monoclonal antibody biologic agents targeting T2-high disease also show efficacy and promise of improved control in difficult cases. Developments in these areas are highlighted in this overview.

Tendency in Pulmonary Aspergillosis Investigation during the COVID-19 Era: What Is Changing?

Aspergillosis is a disease caused by Aspergillus, and invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is the most common invasive fungal infection leading to death in severely immuno-compromised patients. The literature reports Aspergillus co-infections in patients with COVID-19 (CAPA). Diagnosing CAPA clinically is complex since the symptoms are non-specific, and performing a bronchoscopy is difficult. Generally, the microbiological diagnosis of aspergillosis is based on cultural methods and on searching for the circulating antigens galactomannan and 1,3-β-D-glucan in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (bGM) or serum (sGM). In this study, to verify whether the COVID-19 period has stimulated clinicians to pay greater attention to IPA in patients with respiratory tract infections, we evaluated the number of requests for GM-Ag research and the number of positive tests found during the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 periods. Our data show a significant upward trend in GM-Ag requests and positivity from the pre-COVID to COVID period, which is attributable in particular to the increase in IPA risk factors as a complication of COVID-19. In the COVID period, parallel to the increase in requests, the number of positive tests for GM-Ag also increased, going from 2.5% in the first period of 2020 to 12.3% in the first period of 2021.

Registry analysis of patients with severe allergic asthma and clinically relevant sensitization to fungal allergens treated with genetically engineered biologics

Background. Fungal sensitization (FS) often escapes the attention of clinicians when assessing the spectrum of sensitization in patients with atopic diseases. According to cohort studies is found in 310% of the general population and in 720% of asthmatics; the proportion of patients with severe bronchial asthma (SBA) with HS ranges from 35 to 75%. Fungal conidia have a 1000-fold higher exposure and are among the most important clinically relevant allergens in asthma. Exposure to fungal allergens is capable of generating a sustained T2 response with production of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-5 and 13, which is indirectly related to the severity of airway eosinophilia. The identification of specific serum IgE is considered the benchmark diagnostic sign of FS, and the encapsulated hydrophobic carrier polymer system is considered preferable to skin prick tests. The process of reclassifying diseases with fungal lung lesions is confusing treatment strategies, leaving the FS problem underestimated. A series of publications have shown that omalizumab and other biologics targeting IL-5 or IL-5 receptor (IL5R) alpha are effective in treating SBA with FS. However, there remains an unmet need in real clinical practice for standardized approaches to genetically engineered biological therapies (BT) for different phenotypes of SBA, especially those associated with impaired microbiological homeostasis and this type of sensitization. Aim. Using retrospective analysis of clinical-dynamic observational data from patients on BT treatment in a real clinical setting to determine phenotypic features of severe allergic bronchial asthma with FS and to perform additional detailed analysis of a cohort of patients on anti-IgE therapy. Materials and methods. A retrospective observational single-center registry study was conducted between June 2017 and August 2021 at the City Reference Center for Allergology and Immunology. The baseline cohort consisted of 198 patients with severe allergic AD who were in the initial phase of BT. Inclusion criteria: age of patients over 18 years; presence of severe allergic bronchial asthma. Complex initial examination of patients included determination of FS by two methods: ImmunoCap ISAC to fungal allergic components alt a1, alt 6 (fungi of genus Alternaria) and asp f1, asp f3, asp f6 (fungi of genus Aspergillus). Specific IgE determinations on fungal panels. Sensitization to fungi was detected in 47 people during allergy examination. The following criteria were considered in evaluation of response to omalizumab: AST score less than 19 and/or difference between initial AST score and this score in dynamics less than 3 points; FEV 1 score less than 80; combination of 2 listed criteria. The minimum period of BT was 16 weeks. Nonparametric methods of descriptive statistics were used: median, interquartile range. Differences were considered significant at p0.05. Data were statistically processed using nonparametric methods in IBM SPSS Statistics V-22 program. MannWhitney U-test and KruskalWallis one-way analysis of variance were used to compare quantitative characteristics. Fisher's 2 test was used to compare qualitative characteristics. Results. Characteristics of the eosinophilic phenotype of SBA combined with FS: middle-aged patients, more often women, with relatively early onset of AD and high baseline eosinophil levels before prescription of biological drug therapy. Concomitant atopic dermatitis and food allergies are additional frequent features of this phenotype. Analysis of the effect of FS on achieving response to omalizumab and further consideration of switching to alternative therapy in SBA and FS patients showed the need to avoid premature revision and perform no earlier than the 10th month of therapy due to delayed response formation. Given the aggressive impact of FS on the barrier functions of the bronchial tree epithelium, it is advisable to test patients for FS at the initial diagnosis of AD. In the presence of atopic dermatitis and/or food allergy as T2 comorbidities in patients with SBA, early testing for FS and increased control of local and systemic inflammation are appropriate, which may improve long-term outcomes and reduce risks of further damage to natural barriers. Conclusion. Further research on various aspects of FS and its role in allergic diseases is extremely relevant in the current context.

The Role of Comorbidities in Difficult-to-Control Asthma in Adults and Children

Assessment of asthma comorbidities, conditions that adversely affect the pathobiology of asthma or impair its response to therapies, is a fundamental step in the evaluation and management of patients with difficult-to-treat asthma. Identifying and effectively treating asthma comorbidities, such as obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, and chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps, may improve asthma control and reduce exacerbations. In addition, identifying comorbid T2 inflammatory conditions may help guide optimal selection of biologic therapies. Here, we describe common comorbid conditions found in adult and pediatric difficult-to-control asthma, discuss evidence for the association with asthma morbidity and treatment benefit, and provide information on how and when to assess comorbidities.

Review of current and future therapeutics in ABPA

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is an allergic pulmonary condition caused by hypersensitivity to antigens of Aspergillus sp. found most commonly in patients with underlying asthma or cystic fibrosis. Host factors which alter the innate and adaptive immune responses to this abundant airborne fungus contribute to the development of chronic airway inflammation, bronchiectasis, and fibrosis. Traditionally, treatment has focussed on reducing fungal burden and immune response to fungal antigens. However, a significant proportion of patients continue to suffer recurrent exacerbations with progressive lung damage, and the side effect burden of existing treatments is high. New treatments including novel antifungal agents, monoclonal antibodies against aspects of the adaptive immune response as well as targeted immunotherapies may be better tolerated and achieve improved outcomes but have not yet been studied in large-scale randomised control trials.

Eosinophils as Drivers of Severe Eosinophilic Asthma: Endotypes or Plasticity?

Asthma is now recognized as a heterogeneous disease, encompassing different phenotypes driven by distinct pathophysiological mechanisms called endotypes. Common phenotypes of asthma, referred to as eosinophilic asthma, are characterized by the presence of eosinophilia. Eosinophils are usually considered invariant, terminally differentiated effector cells and have become a primary therapeutic target in severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA) and other eosinophil-associated diseases (EADs). Biological treatments that target eosinophils reveal an unexpectedly complex role of eosinophils in asthma, including in SEA, suggesting that "not all eosinophils are equal". In this review, we address our current understanding of the role of eosinophils in asthma with regard to asthma phenotypes and endotypes. We further address the possibility that different SEA phenotypes may involve differences in eosinophil biology. We discuss how these differences could arise through eosinophil "endotyping", viz. adaptations of eosinophil function imprinted during their development, or through tissue-induced plasticity, viz. local adaptations of eosinophil function through interaction with their lung tissue niches. In doing so, we also discuss opportunities, technical challenges, and open questions that, if addressed, might provide considerable benefits in guiding the choice of the most efficient precision therapies of SEA and, by extension, other EADs.

Initiation and Pathogenesis of Severe Asthma with Fungal Sensitization

Fungi represent one of the most diverse and abundant eukaryotes on earth, and their ubiquity and small proteolytically active products make them pervasive allergens that affect humans and other mammals. The immunologic parameters surrounding fungal allergies are still not fully elucidated despite their importance given that a large proportion of severe asthmatics are sensitized to fungal allergens. Herein, we explore fungal allergic asthma with emphasis on mouse models that recapitulate the characteristics of human disease, and the main leukocyte players in the pathogenesis of fungal allergies. The endogenous mycobiome may also contribute to fungal asthma, a phenomenon that we discuss only superficially, as much remains to be discovered.