• Corrado Pelaia, Maria Teresa Busceti, Claudia Crimi, Giovanna Elisiana Carpagnano, Nicola Lombardo, Rosa Terracciano, Alessandro Vatrella, and Girolamo Pelaia.
• Respiratory Medicine Unit, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro - Catanzaro, Italy.
• Biomed. Pharmacother. 2020 Sep 1; 129: 110444.

BackgroundThe humanized monoclonal antibody benralizumab targets the α subunit of the interleukin-5 (IL-5) receptor and the FcγRIIIa receptor expressed by natural killer cells. Through this dual mechanism of action, benralizumab neutralizes the pro-eosinophil functions of IL-5 and promotes eosinophil apoptosis.Objectives And MethodsThe present real-life study aimed to evaluate, in 22 allergic patients with severe eosinophilic asthma, the effects of benralizumab on asthma exacerbations and lung hyperinflation.ResultsIn this regard here we show that, after 24 weeks of add-on treatment, benralizumab completely depleted peripheral blood eosinophils (from 810 to 0 cells/μL; p < 0.0001), and significantly decreased both asthma exacerbation number (from 4 to 0; p < 0.0001) and residual volume (from 2720 to 2300 mL; p < 0.01). Moreover, at the same time point (24 weeks) benralizumab also increased pre-bronchodilator FEV1 (from 1295 to 1985 mL; p < 0.0001), FVC (from 2390 to 2974 mL; p < 0.0001), FEF25-75 (from 0.6 to 1.42 L/sec; p < 0.0001), IC (from 1940 to 2460 mL; not significant), and ACT score (from 14.73 to 22.95; p < 0.0001), as well as reduced prednisone intake (from 25 to 0 mg; p < 0.0001).ConclusionIn conclusion, our results suggest that via its anti-eosinophil actions benralizumab improved airflow limitation, lung hyperinflation, and respiratory symptoms, as well as lowered asthma exacerbation rate and abrogated OCS consumption in most patients.Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.

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