Influence of Staphylococcal enterotoxin‐specific IgE sensitization on therapeutic efficacy of omalizumab therapy in severe asthma.

This article discusses a study published in the journal Respirology that examines the impact of Staphylococcal enterotoxin-specific IgE sensitization on the effectiveness of omalizumab therapy in severe asthma. The study found that Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria commonly found in the upper airways, produces Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) that can stimulate the production of specific IgE antibodies. High levels of SE-IgE have been associated with severe late-onset asthma. The study conducted a prospective observational study to evaluate the clinical efficacy of omalizumab in patients with severe asthma who are allergic and non-allergic to aeroallergens, with and without positive SE-IgE. The results provide valuable insights into the characteristics of these patient groups. The study found that omalizumab reduced acute exacerbation rates and improved asthma control in patients with allergic asthma, regardless of SE-IgE sensitization. However, in non-allergic asthma patients, only those with SE-IgE sensitization responded to omalizumab. The study also discovered that patients who responded well to omalizumab had higher levels of eosinophils and lower levels of neutrophils in their sputum. Additionally, the addition of clarithromycin to omalizumab treatment improved asthma control in patients who had a poor or partial response to omalizumab. [Extracted from the article]