Abstract
A 51-year-old woman had been receiving medical treatment for asthma since she was 21 years old. However, her asthma was poorly controlled despite treatment involving combination inhalation of high-dose corticosteroid and long-acting β 2-aderenergic agonist (LABA) and regularly taking oral steroids. Hearing loss and otorrhea appeared at the age of 44, and she was given a diagnosis of eosinophilic otitis media (EOM) and received medical treatment. In 2007, symptoms of asthma and otitis media deteriorated. In December 2009, omalizumab therapy was started for refractory asthma. After 2 months of omalizumab treatment, not only asthma, but also hearing loss improved. It is suggested that early initiation of omalizumab therapy may inhibit the progression of progressive EOM.
Highlights
The anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) monoclonal antibody omalizumab was approved in 2005, by the European Medicines Agency for the treatment of severe asthma [1]
We describe a case of severe asthma and concurrent intractable eosinophilic otitis media (EOM) in which omalizumab therapy improved the symptoms of both asthma and EOM
Omalizumab is indicated for the treatment of severe asthma, omalizumab is expected to have a therapeutic effect on conditions associated with eosinophilic inflammation
Summary
The anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) monoclonal antibody omalizumab was approved in 2005, by the European Medicines Agency for the treatment of severe asthma [1]. In Japan, omalizumab has been used since 2009, for treating very severe persistent asthma [2]. Omalizumab is expected to exhibit a therapeutic effect on medical conditions associated with eosinophilic inflammation. Since the approved indication of omalizumab is intractable asthma, very little has been reported about the efficiency of omalizumab on EOM.
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