Treatment of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis with biologics

Abstract

Patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) respond well to standard treatments (oral corticosteroids and/or antifungals); however, approximately in half of the patients, the condition recurs during tapering or early after treatment discontinuation. To avoid the adverse effects of long-term treatment, biologics targeting immunoglobulin E (IgE), eosinophils, or type 2 immune responses have been used in refractory ABPA. Omalizumab, an anti-IgE antibody, as well as mepolizumab and benralizumab targeting eosinophils has been consistently shown to decrease co-morbid asthma exacerbation and dose of oral corticosteroids. Furthermore, mepolizumab and benralizumab effectively improved chest radiographic abnormalities, such as mucus plugs in the bronchi. Data on dupilumab and tezepelumab are limited; however, they may be effective in patients who are resistant to treatment with omalizumab/mepolizumab/benralizumab. Future studies examining the effects of these biologics in preventing the recurrences/exacerbations of ABPA are warranted.

Keywords: Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis; Benralizumab; Dupilumab; Eosinophils; Immunoglobulin E; Mepolizumab; Omalizumab.