Mepolizumab as a steroid-sparing treatment option in patients with Churg-Strauss syndrome

Background Treatments for Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS), a rare eosinophilic vasculitis characterized by asthma, sinusitis, peripheral eosinophilia, pulmonary infiltrates, and tissue infiltration, are limited by toxicity or poor efficacy. Levels of IL-5, a cytokine regulating eosinophils, can be incr... Full description

Background Treatments for Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS), a rare eosinophilic vasculitis characterized by asthma, sinusitis, peripheral eosinophilia, pulmonary infiltrates, and tissue infiltration, are limited by toxicity or poor efficacy. Levels of IL-5, a cytokine regulating eosinophils, can be increased in patients with CSS. Mepolizumab, a humanized monoclonal anti–IL-5 antibody, decreases steroid requirements in patients with non-CSS hypereosinophilic syndromes. Objective The purpose of this study was to assess whether mepolizumab would safely allow corticosteroid tapering in patients with steroid-dependent CSS while decreasing serum markers of disease activity. Methods This open-label pilot study treated 7 patients with 4 monthly doses of mepolizumab to assess whether it safely decreased CSS disease activity and permitted tapering of systemic corticosteroids. Results Mepolizumab was safe and well tolerated in patients with CSS. Mepolizumab reduced eosinophil counts and allowed for safe corticosteroid reduction in all 7 subjects. On cessation of mepolizumab, CSS manifestations recurred, necessitating corticosteroid bursts. Conclusion Mepolizumab is a safe and well-tolerated therapy in patients with CSS, offering clinical benefit by enabling corticosteroid tapering while maintaining clinical stability.