Anti-interleukin (IL)-5 as a steroid-sparing agent in chronic eosinophilic pneumonia

J Asthma. 2020 Jan;57(1):82-86. doi: 10.1080/02770903.2018.1543434. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Abstract

Introduction: Anti-interleukin (IL)-5 therapy is a novel drug class clinically effective in patients with diverse eosinophil-related disorders such as allergic eosinophilic asthma, eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), nasal polyposis, eosinophilic COPD, and other non-pulmonary disorders such as eosinophilic esophagitis. Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) is a steroid responsive disorder, however, relapses are common following corticosteroid tapering. Case Study: We present the case of a 42-year-old woman with steroid-dependent relapsing CEP successfully treated with anti-IL-5 antibody. Results: Treatment with anti-IL-5 antibody resulted in remission with the ability to taper off the steroids, and no recurrence of the disease for 6 months. Conclusion: Our case report supports the potential use of anti-IL-5 therapy for remission of patients with CEP with recurrent relapses. Whether, it would also be an effective initial therapy might also be an area that deserves future investigation.

Keywords: Case reports; immunopathogenesis; therapy; treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / pharmacology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use*
  • Chronic Disease / drug therapy
  • Drug Therapy, Combination / methods
  • Female
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-5 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Interleukin-5 / immunology
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung / immunology
  • Pulmonary Eosinophilia / diagnosis
  • Pulmonary Eosinophilia / drug therapy*
  • Pulmonary Eosinophilia / immunology
  • Recurrence
  • Secondary Prevention / methods*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Glucocorticoids
  • IL5 protein, human
  • Interleukin-5
  • mepolizumab