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CASE REPORT
Impact of omalizumab therapy on the course of COVID-19 in a patient with severe asthma: A case report
1
Department of Internal Medicine, Pneumonology and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland
Submission date: 2022-05-28
Final revision date: 2022-09-07
Acceptance date: 2022-09-07
Online publication date: 2023-02-06
Corresponding author
Anna Zaleska
Department of Internal Medicine, Pneumonology and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University, Curie-Sklodowskiej 66, 50-369 Wroclaw, Poland.
Department of Internal Medicine, Pneumonology and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University, Curie-Sklodowskiej 66, 50-369 Wroclaw, Poland.
Pol. Ann. Med. 2023;30(1):77-81
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Various risk factors have been attributed to coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) severity. Omalizumab as an immunoglobulin E blocker that enhances anti-viral immunity might be a potential cytokine storm trigger.
Aim:
Our goal was to investigate if the treatment with omalizumab due to severe asthma is a risk factor of severe COVID-19 pneumonia and if severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can trigger asthma exacerbation.
Case study:
We report the case of a 65-year-old patient with severe allergic asthma receiving treatment with omalizumab for last 8 months with good results, who in December 2020 was infected with SARS-CoV-2. The patient was not vaccinated against COVID-19 (no vaccine was available at that time), and had comorbidities.
Results and discussion:
COVID-19 course of presented patient was asymptomatic and resolved quickly without the need for hospitalization or asthma exacerbation. There was a slightly worse score on the asthma control questionnaire after COVID-19 resolution (2.1 point vs. 1.5 points) and a threefold increase in eosinophil counts (660 cell/µL vs. 230 cell/µL). However, no wheezing or deterioration in pulmonary function tests were found. A computed tomography of the chest revealed only minor densities of pulmonary parenchyma and thickened walls of bronchi.
Conclusions:
Omalizumab used in the treatment of severe allergic asthma proved to be safe and beneficial for the course of COVID-19 in the case reported. Simultaneously, SARS-CoV-2 was not a factor for asthma exacerbation.
Various risk factors have been attributed to coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) severity. Omalizumab as an immunoglobulin E blocker that enhances anti-viral immunity might be a potential cytokine storm trigger.
Aim:
Our goal was to investigate if the treatment with omalizumab due to severe asthma is a risk factor of severe COVID-19 pneumonia and if severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can trigger asthma exacerbation.
Case study:
We report the case of a 65-year-old patient with severe allergic asthma receiving treatment with omalizumab for last 8 months with good results, who in December 2020 was infected with SARS-CoV-2. The patient was not vaccinated against COVID-19 (no vaccine was available at that time), and had comorbidities.
Results and discussion:
COVID-19 course of presented patient was asymptomatic and resolved quickly without the need for hospitalization or asthma exacerbation. There was a slightly worse score on the asthma control questionnaire after COVID-19 resolution (2.1 point vs. 1.5 points) and a threefold increase in eosinophil counts (660 cell/µL vs. 230 cell/µL). However, no wheezing or deterioration in pulmonary function tests were found. A computed tomography of the chest revealed only minor densities of pulmonary parenchyma and thickened walls of bronchi.
Conclusions:
Omalizumab used in the treatment of severe allergic asthma proved to be safe and beneficial for the course of COVID-19 in the case reported. Simultaneously, SARS-CoV-2 was not a factor for asthma exacerbation.
FUNDING
None declared.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
None declared.
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