Abstract
BACKGROUND: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) is associated with a high rate of disease recurrence following endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). Type 2 disease is associated with a higher incidence of recurrence and is believed to impact disease resolution via interference with epithelial healing and pathogen immunity. We wished to verify if perioperative control of Type 2 inflammation with an anti-IL4/IL13 targeting monoclonal antibody and during the resolution period following surgery leads to better control of the disease long term. METHODS: In this prospective, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial. Thirty adult subjects with recurrent CRSwNP underwent ESS plus or minus 14 weeks of perioperative dupilumab, initiated 4 weeks (two injections) pre-ESS. Subjective and objective parameters of nasal patency, olfaction, quality of life (QoL), and adverse events were monitored up to 52 weeks post-ESS. Microbiological culture was performed to characterize pathogens colonization under both conditions. RESULTS: ESS safely improved subjective and objective measures of nasal patency, olfaction, and QoL in both groups. Olfaction was conserved longer in the dupilumab-treated group, with 33.3% of subjects presenting anosmia at 12 months after ESS in the dupilumab group compared to 50.0% with placebo. This was associated with persistent decreases in serum IgE, which were not seen with placebo treatment. No unusual safety signals were observed. CONCLUSION: Short-course adjuvant perioperative treatment with dupilumab is associated with improved long-term olfactory outcomes and persistent lowering of serum IgE.