Abstract

The efficacy and safety of omalizumab has been demonstrated in children as young as 6 years of age. Omalizumab is currently approved for a range of immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels that differ by age. In patients with IgE levels higher than the indicated therapeutic window, only a few studies have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of its use. Specifically, no reported studies exist to describe the use of omalizumab in pediatric patients with asthma ages <12 years and with high IgE levels.We reported a series of pediatric patients who were initiated on omalizumab despite an IgE level higher than the age-indicated therapeutic windows and aimed to describe whether omalizumab was safe and improved asthma outcomes.Patients who initiated omalizumab in our pediatric allergy clinic between January 2008 and December 2015, with serum IgE levels higher than the age-indicated therapeutic ranges were included. Patient charts were reviewed to determine the number of asthma-related events in the 12 months before and after initiation of omalizumab and the Asthma Control Test™ scores at the time of initiation and at 12 months of therapy.Eleven patients were identified with pretreatment IgE levels higher than the age-approved thresholds. Five patients were ages <12 years, and six patients were ages >12 years. For all but one patient, the maximum recommended dose of 375 mg every 2 weeks was effective in reducing the need for corticosteroids, emergency department visits, or hospitalizations in the year after initiation of therapy. During the period of therapy, there were no reports of severe reactions.Despite a small study group, our results indicated that omalizumab may be safely used in pediatric patients with IgE levels higher than the indicated therapeutic windows.

View details for DOI 10.2500/aap.2018.39.4146

View details for PubMedID 30095394