What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate the prednisone-sparing effect and clinical efficacy of mepolizumab, an anti-interleukin-5 monoclonal antibody, in patients with asthma who have persistent sputum eosinophilia despite ongoing oral corticosteroid therapy.

March 4, 2009New England Journal of MedicineOpen Access

Mepolizumab for Prednisone-Dependent Asthma with Sputum Eosinophilia

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

To evaluate the prednisone-sparing effect and clinical efficacy of mepolizumab, an anti-interleukin-5 monoclonal antibody, in patients with asthma who have persistent sputum eosinophilia despite ongoing oral corticosteroid therapy.
Randomized, double-blind, parallel-group trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00292877) enrolling 20 patients with persistent sputum eosinophilia and symptoms despite regular prednisone use.
Patients were randomly assigned to receive five monthly intravenous infusions of either mepolizumab (750 mg, n=9) or placebo (n=11).
Asthma exacerbations occurred in only 1 patient receiving mepolizumab (1 total exacerbation) compared to 10 patients receiving placebo (12 total exacerbations; P=0.002).
Patients in the mepolizumab group reduced their prednisone dose by a mean (±SD) of 83.8±33.4% of the maximum dose, compared with 47.7±40.5% in the placebo group (P=0.04).
Mepolizumab significantly reduced blood and sputum eosinophil counts, with clinical improvements in asthma control and forced expiratory volume in 1 second sustained for 8 weeks after the final infusion.

Discussion

No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.

Implication

Randomized double-blind trial demonstrates mepolizumab significantly reduces asthma exacerbations and steroid reliance in eosinophilic asthma, indicating effective targeted treatment for severe...

Cite This Study

Nair et al. (2009) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a0c6936d48675e4942369ab https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa0805435

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Implication

Randomized double-blind trial demonstrates mepolizumab significantly reduces asthma exacerbations and steroid reliance in eosinophilic asthma, indicating effective targeted treatment for severe...

Mepolizumab for Prednisone-Dependent Asthma with Sputum Eosinophilia

Key Points

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

Mepolizumab for Prednisone-Dependent Asthma with Sputum Eosinophilia

Key Points

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Also Consider