Dupilumab in the treatment of severe uncontrolled chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP): A multicentric observational Phase IV real-life study (DUPIREAL)

Background Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is associated with significant morbidity and reduced health-related quality of life. Findings from clinical trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of dupilumab in CRSwNP, although real-world evidence is still limited. Methods This Phase IV real-life, observational, multicenter study assessed the effectiveness and safety of dupilumab in patients with severe uncontrolled CRSwNP (n = 648) over the first year of treatment. We collected data at baseline and after 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of follow-up. We focused on nasal polyps score (NPS), symptoms, and olfactory function. We stratified outcomes by comorbidities, previous surgery, and adherence to intranasal corticosteroids, and examined the success rates based on current guidelines, as well as potential predictors of response at each timepoint. Results We observed a significant decrease in NPS from a median value of 6 (IQR 5–6) at baseline to 1.0 (IQR 0.0–2.0) at 12 months (p < .001), and a significant decrease in Sino-Nasal Outcomes Test-22 (SNOT-22) from a median score of 58 (IQR 49–70) at baseline to 11 (IQR 6–21; p < .001) at 12 months. Sniffin' Sticks scores showed a significant increase over 12 months (p < .001) compared to baseline. The results were unaffected by concomitant diseases, number of previous surgeries, and adherence to topical steroids, except for minor differences in rapidity of action. An excellent-moderate response was observed in 96.9% of patients at 12 months based on EPOS 2020 criteria. Conclusions Our findings from this large-scale real-life study support the effectiveness of dupilumab as an add-on therapy in patients with severe uncontrolled CRSwNP in reducing polyp size and improving the quality of life, severity of symptoms, nasal congestion, and smell

Olfaction Recovery following Dupilumab Is Independent of Nasal Polyp Reduction in CRSwNP

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a chronic type 2 inflammatory disease characterized by olfactory impairment (0I) as one of the most troublesome symptoms. Currently, biologics represent a new option in the treatment of uncontrolled type 2 CRSwNP. This is a retrospective real-life observational study involving adult patients affected by severe uncontrolled CRSwNP. At baseline, and 3 and 6 months after Dupilumab add on to intranasal steroids (INS), patients underwent the 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22), nasal endoscopy, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scale for OI, and Sniffin Sticks-16 items identification test (55-I). We observed improvement in all clinical outcomes with a significant correlation between VAS-SS-I/SNOT22, whereas we did not find a correlation between Nasal Polyp Score (NPS) and SS-I or VAS. Interestingly, patients reported a higher degree of improvement of CH on the VAS than on the SS-I. These data demonstrate that the patients were not aware about the degree of their CH and the perception of general improvement in their health-related quality of life (HRQoL) may have influenced the VAS score. Moreover, we observed a lack of correlation between NPS and SS-I or VAS, suggesting that OI did not depend on the polyps' volume and may be due mainly to the resolution of inflammation. So, the physiopathological mechanisms underlying OI in CRSwNP and its recovery after Dupilumab might be unrelated to the volume of the polyps and might depend mainly on the anti-inflammatory effects. Future studies including biomarkers may be useful to clarify this aspect

Clinical Markers of Need for Surgery in Orbital Complication of Acute Rhinosinusitis in Children: Overview and Systematic Review

Background: Although they can occur at all ages, orbital (OC) and periorbital cellulitis (POC) prevail in the pediatric population. Acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) is the most frequent predisposing factor of OC. Recent literature has suggested a medical management approach for OC and POC, with surgery reserved only for more severe cases. However, there is still a lack of consensus on the clinical markers of a need for surgery. The aim of this systematic review was to identify clinical markers of a need for surgery in children with OC. Our systematic review, in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) process, yielded 1289 articles finally screened. This resulted in 31 full texts that were included in a qualitative analysis. The results of this review suggest that in children aged over 9 years, large subperiosteal orbital abscesses (SPOAs), impaired vision, ophthalmoplegia, proptosis, elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and absolute neutrophil counts (ANC), hemodynamic compromise, no clinical improvement after 48/72 h of antibiotic therapy, and a Chandler III score or higher are clinical markers of the need for surgery. However, most of the studies are observational and retrospective, and further studies are needed to identify reliable and repeatable clinical markers of the need for surgery

Olfaction Recovery following Dupilumab Is Independent of Nasal Polyp Reduction in CRSwNP

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a chronic type 2 inflammatory disease characterized by olfactory impairment (OI) as one of the most troublesome symptoms. Currently, biologics represent a new option in the treatment of uncontrolled type 2 CRSwNP. This is a retrospective real-life observational study involving adult patients affected by severe uncontrolled CRSwNP. At baseline, and 3 and 6 months after Dupilumab add on to intranasal steroids (INS), patients underwent the 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22), nasal endoscopy, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scale for OI, and Sniffin Sticks-16 items identification test (SS-I). We observed improvement in all clinical outcomes with a significant correlation between VAS-SS-I/SNOT22, whereas we did not find a correlation between Nasal Polyp Score (NPS) and SS-I or VAS. Interestingly, patients reported a higher degree of improvement of OI on the VAS than on the SS-I. These data demonstrate that the patients were not aware about the degree of their OI and the perception of general improvement in their health-related quality of life (HRQoL) may have influenced the VAS score. Moreover, we observed a lack of correlation between NPS and SS-I or VAS, suggesting that OI did not depend on the polyps’ volume and may be due mainly to the resolution of inflammation. So, the physiopathological mechanisms underlying OI in CRSwNP and its recovery after Dupilumab might be unrelated to the volume of the polyps and might depend mainly on the anti-inflammatory effects. Future studies including biomarkers may be useful to clarify this aspect

Clinical Markers of Need for Surgery in Orbital Complication of Acute Rhinosinusitis in Children: Overview and Systematic Review

Background: Although they can occur at all ages, orbital (OC) and periorbital cellulitis (POC) prevail in the pediatric population. Acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) is the most frequent predisposing factor of OC. Recent literature has suggested a medical management approach for OC and POC, with surgery reserved only for more severe cases. However, there is still a lack of consensus on the clinical markers of a need for surgery. The aim of this systematic review was to identify clinical markers of a need for surgery in children with OC. Our systematic review, in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) process, yielded 1289 articles finally screened. This resulted in 31 full texts that were included in a qualitative analysis. The results of this review suggest that in children aged over 9 years, large subperiosteal orbital abscesses (SPOAs), impaired vision, ophthalmoplegia, proptosis, elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and absolute neutrophil counts (ANC), hemodynamic compromise, no clinical improvement after 48/72 h of antibiotic therapy, and a Chandler III score or higher are clinical markers of the need for surgery. However, most of the studies are observational and retrospective, and further studies are needed to identify reliable and repeatable clinical markers of the need for surgery

Endotyping of Cholesteatoma: Which Molecular Biomarkers? A Systematic Review

So far, no medical treatment is available for cholesteatoma (C) and the only effective therapy is complete surgical removal, but recurrence is common even after surgical treatment. While C is classically divided into two clinical phenotypes, congenital and acquired, only a few studies have focused on its potential biomarkers. This study aims to revise the literature to identify which biomarkers can define the endotype of C

Parosmia COVID-19 Related Treated by a Combination of Olfactory Training and Ultramicronized PEA-LUT: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

During COVID-19 pandemic, clinicians have had to deal with an ever-increasing number of cases of olfactory disturbances after SARS-CoV-2 infections and in some people this problem persisted for long time after negativization from virus. This a prospective randomized controlled trial aims at evaluating the efficacy of ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and Luteolin (LUT) (umPEA-LUT) and olfactory training (OT) compared to OT alone for the treatment of smell disorders in Italian post-COVID population. We included patients with smell loss and parosmia who were randomized and assigned to Group 1 (intervention group; daily treatment with umPEA-LUT oral supplement and OT) or Group 2 (control group; daily treatment with placebo and OT). All subjects were treated for 90 consecutive days. The Sniffin’ Sticks identification test was used to assess the olfactory functions at the baseline (T0) and the end of the treatment (T1). Patients were queried regarding any perception of altered olfaction (parosmia) or aversive smell, such as cacosmia, gasoline-type smell, or otherwise at the same observational points. This study confirmed the efficacy of combination of umPEA-LUT and olfactory training as treatment of quantitative smell alteration COVID-19 related, but the efficacy of the supplement for parosmia was limited. UmpEA-LUT is useful for the treatment of brain neuro-inflammation (origin of quantity smell disorders) but has limited/no effect on peripheral damage (olfactory nerve, neuro-epithelium) that is responsible of quality disorders

Clinical Markers of Need for Surgery in Orbital Complication of Acute Rhinosinusitis in Children: Overview and Systematic Review

Background: Although they can occur at all ages, orbital (OC) and periorbital cellulitis (POC) prevail in the pediatric population. Acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) is the most frequent predisposing factor of OC. Recent literature has suggested a medical management approach for OC and POC, with surgery reserved only for more severe cases. However, there is still a lack of consensus on the clinical markers of a need for surgery. The aim of this systematic review was to identify clinical markers of a need for surgery in children with OC. Our systematic review, in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) process, yielded 1289 articles finally screened. This resulted in 31 full texts that were included in a qualitative analysis. The results of this review suggest that in children aged over 9 years, large subperiosteal orbital abscesses (SPOAs), impaired vision, ophthalmoplegia, proptosis, elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and absolute neutrophil counts (ANC), hemodynamic compromise, no clinical improvement after 48/72 h of antibiotic therapy, and a Chandler III score or higher are clinical markers of the need for surgery. However, most of the studies are observational and retrospective, and further studies are needed to identify reliable and repeatable clinical markers of the need for surgery

The Role of Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy in ENT Diseases: A Systematic Review

Previous studies have demonstrated that both subcutaneous (SCIT) and sublingual specific immunotherapy (SLIT) are effective in treating allergic rhinitis (AR). Further studies have evaluated the efficacy of allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) on different ear, nose, and throat (ENT) manifestations, in which allergy might have an etiopathogenetic role, such as local allergic rhinitis (LAR), rhinosinusitis (RS), otitis media (OM), and adenotonsillar (AT) disease. Nevertheless, the management of allergy in ENT diseases is still debated. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first systematic review assessing the efficacy of AIT in ENT diseases aside from AR. Literature data confirmed that AIT might be an effective therapeutic option in LAR, although its effect is restricted to studies with short-term follow-up. Furthermore, previous research demonstrated that AIT may improve symptoms and surgical outcomes of chronic rhinosinusitis when used as an adjunctive treatment. Few studies supported the hypothesis that AIT may exert positive therapeutic effects on recurrent upper airway infections as adenotonsillar disease. Finally, some clinical observations suggested that AIT may add some benefits in the management of otitis media with effusion (OME). The results of this systematic review allow us to conclude that the efficacy of AIT in ENT disorders has been only slightly investigated and additional studies are needed