Novel targets in the management of pneumonia.

Ther Adv Respir Dis. 2008 Dec;2(6):387-400

Authors: Díaz LA, Mortensen EM, Anzueto A, Restrepo MI

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is the leading cause of death from infectious diseases in the US. It accounts each year for 500,000 hospitalizations and 45,000 deaths and represents one of the most common causes of intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The mortality rate due to severe CAP has shown little improvement in the past three decades, remaining between 21% and 58% in patients admitted to the intensive care unit. Antimicrobial agents are the cornerstone of therapy against CAP, but there are some novel antibiotic and nonantibiotic therapies that have been recently tested that may potentially impact outcomes of patients with severe CAP. We will review the most recent data regarding novel therapies in patients with the highest risk of death such as those with severe CAP.

PMID: 19124384 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Omalizumab in the treatment of severe asthma: efficacy and current problems.

Ther Adv Respir Dis. 2008 Dec;2(6):409-21

Authors: Pelaia G, Renda T, Romeo P, Busceti MT, Maselli R

Omalizumab is a humanized monoclonal anti-IgE antibody recently approved for the treatment of severe allergic asthma. This drug inhibits allergic responses by binding to serum IgE, thus preventing their interactions with cellular IgE receptors. Omalizumab is also capable of downregulating the expression of high-affinity IgE receptors on inflammatory cells, as well as the numbers of eosinophils in both blood and induced sputum. The clinical effects of omalizumab include relevant improvements in respiratory symptoms and quality of life, paralleled by a marked reduction of asthma exacerbations, emergency room visits, and use of systemic corticosteroids and rescue bronchodilators. Omalizumab is relatively well tolerated, and only rarely induces anaphylactic reactions. Therefore, this drug represents a valid option as add-on therapy for patients with severe persistent allergic asthma, inadequately controlled by high doses of standard inhaled treatments.

PMID: 19124386 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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