Respiratory Medicine Case Reports (Jan 2022)
Effect of benralizumab in a patient with uncontrolled severe eosinophilic asthma and comorbid chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps refractory to mepolizumab treatment
Abstract
Severe eosinophilic asthma is associated with a high corticosteroid burden, particularly in patients with comorbid chronic sinusitis/nasal polyps. This case study reports a 33-year-old woman who presented to the severe asthma center with uncontrolled severe eosinophilic asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). Despite maximized asthma treatment, including maintenance oral corticosteroids (OCS) for 7 years, the patient experienced one to two hospitalizations per year, had daily symptoms that substantially impacted her quality of life, and elevated type 2 inflammatory markers (blood eosinophils, 0.72 × 109/L; fractional exhaled nitric oxide, 134 to 300 parts per billion). Her asthma worsened during her first pregnancy, in which she required five hospital admissions despite treatment with maintenance OCS. Mepolizumab treatment was commenced after pregnancy but showed limited efficacy (blood eosinophil levels up to 0.94 × 109/L); treatment was discontinued because of a second pregnancy. The patient's asthma worsened and resulted in four hospitalizations and an increase in monthly OCS dose. Mepolizumab was recommenced after pregnancy, but her asthma remained uncontrolled, symptoms persisted, and one hospitalization and nine OCS courses were required. The patient was switched to benralizumab treatment when it became available. Although her CRSwNP symptoms remained, benralizumab treatment resulted in a marked improvement in asthma control, zero hospitalizations, and suppressed blood eosinophil levels. Notably, the patient was successfully weaned off maintenance OCS after >11 years of treatment. In summary, these findings support the use of benralizumab as a corticosteroid-sparing treatment option in difficult-to-treat severe eosinophilic asthma refractory to mepolizumab treatment.
