Managed care (Langhorne, Pa.)
-
To review the characteristics of difficult-to-treat asthma and describe patients who may benefit from therapy with the recently approved humanized monoclonal antiimmunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody, omalizumab. ⋯ Effective asthma control remains difficult in a small cohort of patients with persistent, severe airway inflammation. Management strategies that improve asthma control and reduce exacerbations can improve clinical outcomes and minimize health care resource utilization.