Background therapy in severe asthma on monoclonal antibody treatment in real life

Background: Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) recently recommends clinicians to reduce inhaled corticosteroid doses in patients with severe asthma who respond positively to monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Objective: As we operated this reduction even before the document, we analysed our cohort of subjects on treatment with a MAbs for at least 24 months. Methods: Data stored in our electronic archive and at the 6-month follow-up (FU) were registered and patients’ adherence to asthma therapy was derived by electronic pharmacy claim database. Results: Sixty-three subjects were enrolled. A complete asthma remission and reduction to GINA Step 3 was obtained in 41 % and 61 % of them, respectively. Non-adherent subjects to inhaled and oral asthma therapy were 45 % of them, with a higher percentage among those in complete remission (59 % vs 33 %). Conclusion: In our cohort, stepping down asthma therapy from 5 to 3 level in severe asthmatic patients on Mabs is without any negative consequences on asthma control, even in the case of non-adherence.