| Title: | Mepolizumab: Real life experience of IL-5 inhibitor’s use in severe Eosinophilic Asthma at St Luke General Hospital, Kilkenny |
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| Author(s): | Zaheer M.S. , Shahzad Q, Helly F, Canavan B |
| Institution: | Department of Respiratory Medicine St. Luke’s General Hospital , Kilkenny |
| Poster: | Click to view poster |
| Category: | Asthma and COPD |
| Abstract: | Mepolizumab (Nucala®), a monoclonal antibody specific for IL-5, has been shown to reduce hospitilisation rate’s for those with severe eosinophilic asthma by half when compared to placebo1. At St. Luke’s General Hospital, Co. Kilkenny (SLK) a cohort of patients (n=8) began Mepolizumab treatment for severe eosinophilic asthma. Here a retrospective study to assess efficacy of Mepolizumab in this cohort is presented. On average patients have received of 16.50 months of treatment, with 50% (n=4) completing >18months of treatment. Post induction, the average steroid dose required has reduced by 73.77% from 22.5mg/day to 5.9mg /day [p=0.002]. Steroid dependency has decreased with 62% patients (n=5) now steroid free for 8 months. Mean eosinophil count reduced from 0.522 x10^9/L to 0.15 x10^9/L, an 81.99% reduction [p=0.0002]. Mean AQLQ scores improved by 87%, from 3.37 to 6.30 [p=0.0001]. Mean GP visits have reduced from 59 to 21 [64.40%, p=0.0006]. Participants saw an average FEV1 increase from 2.33L to 2.65L [10%, p =0.16]. Our centre’s experience is comparable to studies published by other centres in Ireland2,3, and internationally4, showing Mepolizumab is an effective treatment for severe eosinophilic asthma, reducing exacerbation frequency & steroid treatment, decreasing GP and hospital presentations and improving overall quality of life. |
