Improvements In Lung Function Outcomes Research Articles

Efficacy of Anti-Interleukin-5 Therapy with Mepolizumab in Patients with Asthma: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trials

BackgroundInterleukin (IL)-5 is believed to be a key cytokine in eosinophil inflammatory infiltration in asthma. Previous clinical trials have evaluated the efficacy and safety of mepolizumab, a monoclonal antibody against IL-5, in patients with asthma. However, most of these studies were small, the conclusions were inconsistent, and the precise effects are therefore debatable.MethodsA meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials was conducted to evaluate the effect of intravenous infusion of mepolizumab on clinical outcomes in patients with asthma. Trials were searched in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane CENTRAL, Scopus, reviews, and reference lists of relevant articles. The outcome variables analyzed included eosinophil counts in blood and sputum, airways outcome measures, exacerbations, asthma control, and quality of life scores.ResultsSeven studies met final inclusion criteria (total n = 1131). From the pooled analyses, mepolizumab significantly reduced eosinophils in blood (MD −0.29×109/L, 95% CI −0.44 to −0.14×109/L, P = 0.0001) and sputum (MD −6.05%, 95% CI −9.34 to −2.77%, P = 0.0003). Mepolizumab was also associated with significantly decreased exacerbation risk than placebo (OR 0.30, 95%CI 0.13 to 0.67, P = 0.004), and with a significant improvement in the scores on the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) (MD 0.26, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.49, P = 0.03) in patients with eosinophilic asthma. There were no statistical differences between the groups with respect to FEV1, PEF, or histamine PC20 (all P>0.05), and a non-significant trend for improvement in scores on the Juniper Asthma Control Questionnaire (JACQ) (MD −0.21, 95% CI −0.43 to 0.01, P = 0.06) in the mepolizumab group was observed.ConclusionsMepolizumab reduces the risk of exacerbations and improves quality of life in patients with eosinophilic asthma, but no significant improvement in lung function outcomes was observed. Further research is required to establish the possible role of anti–IL-5 as a therapy for asthma.

Improvements in Lung Function Outcomes in Children with Cystic Fibrosis are Associated with Better Nutrition, Fewer Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections, and Dornase Alfa Use

To compare lung function and nutritional outcomes in cystic fibrosis (CF) for 2 birth cohorts in our CF center. Patients with CF born between 1985 and 2000 treated in our CF center before age 5 years were included. The patients were divided into 2 equal birth cohorts for comparison: birth cohort 1 (born between 1985 and 1992) and birth cohort 2 (born between 1993 and 2000). To compare lung function, we used forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV(1))% predicted and FEV(1)% predicted slope from age 6 to 12 years. We hypothesized that we would find significant improvements in lung function and nutritional outcomes in our patients with CF. The patients born between 1993 and 2000 (birth cohort 2) had better lung function, a slower rate of decline in lung function, and better nutritional outcomes compared with those born between 1985 and 1992 (birth cohort 1). Factors associated with a slower rate of decline in lung function in both groups were a higher baseline body mass index (BMI)%, a slower BMI% rate of decline, absence of chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa respiratory infection, and initiation of dornase alfa (Pulmozyme) therapy before age 9 years. Our results demonstrate dramatically improved lung function and nutritional outcomes in the children with CF in our center. The improvements in lung function outcomes are associated with better nutrition, fewer chronic P aeruginosa infections, and dornase alfa therapy.