Biological therapy for the treatment of CRSwNP – Real world data on effects and adherence.

Introduction The aims of the study were to quantify adherence and side effects, factors which caused a discontinuation of therapy and also describe effects of biological treatment over time in our patient cohort with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) in daily clinical practice.

Method A retrospective, monocentric, non-randomized trial with real world data was carried out. N=30 Patients with CRSwNP who started a biologic therapy between January 2020 and April 2021 were included and evaluated baseline, after 20 weeks and 40 weeks. Variables related to age, sex, SST-12, total IgE, SNOT-22, NPS and secondary diseases as well as side effects were included.

Results Mean age ± standard deviation was 55.4 years, with 15 male/15 female. The percentage of adherent patients was 29 out of 30 in CRSwNP. Side effects happened in 10/30 and consisted of mostly local reactions of skin, conjunctivitis but also vertigo and headaches. 1/30 Patients dropped out of the therapy after eleven injections because of vertigo. The Total IgE dropped from baseline (BL) 239.7 IU/ml to 80.9 IU/ml (p<.000). The Olfactometry improved from BL 3.9 points to 7.9 points bilateral in week 40 (p<.005). The NPS improved from 6 to 2 (p<.000). Also, the SNOT-22 score decreased from BL 56 to 17 (p<.000) over the course of the therapy.

Conclusions Biological treatment in our real-world study population in a follow-up period over median 33 weeks significantly improved quality of life, shrinkage of nasal polyps and allergy response in the blood, with 96.6% of patients continuing the therapy. Compared to other forms of therapy such as AIT or Aspirin desensitization with high discontinuation rates, biological therapy has shown strong therapy adherence in our real-world patient population.

Publication History

Article published online:
12 May 2023