Illustration of lungs with eosinophils neutralized by Anti-IgE antibodies

Fighting Eosinophilic Pneumonia: Could Anti-IgE Therapy Be Your Answer?

Elliot Brynn in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how innovative Anti-IgE therapy offers new hope for those battling chronic eosinophilic pneumonia, reducing reliance on long-term steroids."

Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) is a rare lung condition characterized by an elevated number of eosinophils—a type of white blood cell—in the lungs and bloodstream. This accumulation leads to inflammation and can cause symptoms like cough, shortness of breath, and fatigue. While CEP can affect anyone, it's more commonly diagnosed in middle-aged women, with a significant portion also experiencing asthma.

Traditionally, CEP is treated with systemic corticosteroids, which effectively reduce inflammation and provide rapid symptom relief. However, many patients experience relapses when the medication is tapered off, especially those with a history of asthma. This often leads to a cycle of steroid use and recurring symptoms, raising concerns about long-term side effects.

Now, there's a promising alternative: Anti-IgE therapy. This innovative approach uses recombinant humanized anti-IgE antibodies to target and reduce IgE levels in the body, which in turn helps to decrease eosinophil counts and reduce inflammation. While Anti-IgE therapy has shown success in managing other eosinophil-related conditions like allergic asthma and chronic urticaria, its potential in treating CEP is just beginning to be explored.

Anti-IgE Therapy: A New Hope for CEP Patients?

Illustration of lungs with eosinophils neutralized by Anti-IgE antibodies

A recent study published in the Journal of Korean Medical Science sheds light on the successful use of Anti-IgE therapy in two patients with chronic eosinophilic pneumonia. These cases offer compelling evidence that this treatment could provide a valuable alternative to long-term corticosteroid use, particularly for those experiencing frequent relapses.

Let's take a closer look at the two cases highlighted in the study:

Case 1: A 17-year-old male presented with a two-week history of dry cough and dyspnea (shortness of breath) on exertion. He had been previously diagnosed with asthma but wasn't using regular maintenance therapy. His eosinophil count was high, and a chest CT scan revealed ground glass opacities in his lungs. After initial treatment with systemic and inhaled corticosteroids, his symptoms returned when the oral steroid dose was tapered. Anti-IgE therapy was then initiated, and after 10 cycles, he was able to stop taking oral corticosteroids altogether. For over two years, his asthma symptoms remained well-controlled with just an inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting beta-agonist (ICS/LABA) inhaler.
Case 2: A 19-year-old male presented with a history of cough, sputum production, dyspnea on exertion, and weight loss. He had been treated for asthma for eight months. Like the first patient, he showed elevated eosinophil counts and ground glass opacity on a chest CT scan. He also experienced recurring symptoms when the systemic steroid dose was reduced. After starting Anti-IgE therapy, he received 10 cycles of treatment and was able to discontinue oral corticosteroids. His symptoms and lung health have been maintained for over a year with an ICS/LABA inhaler.

These cases suggest that Anti-IgE therapy can effectively reduce the need for systemic corticosteroids in CEP patients, preventing the side effects associated with long-term steroid use. By targeting IgE, Anti-IgE therapy helps to downregulate the allergic cascade, reducing inflammation and eosinophil accumulation in the lungs.

A Promising Future for CEP Treatment

While more research is needed to fully understand the long-term benefits and optimal use of Anti-IgE therapy in CEP, these initial findings are encouraging. Anti-IgE therapy offers a targeted approach to managing this challenging condition, potentially improving the quality of life for patients and reducing their reliance on systemic steroids. If you're battling CEP and struggling with steroid dependence, talk to your doctor about whether Anti-IgE therapy might be a suitable option for you.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.3346/jkms.2012.27.10.1261, Alternate LINK

Title: Successful Treatment Of Chronic Eosinophilic Pneumonia With Anti-Ige Therapy

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: Journal of Korean Medical Science

Publisher: Korean Academy of Medical Sciences

Authors: Yoo Seob Shin, Hyun Jung Jin, Hye-Soo Yoo, Eui-Kyung Hwang, Young Hee Nam, Young-Min Ye, Hae-Sim Park

Published: 2012-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What exactly is chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP), and how is it typically managed?

Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) is a rare lung condition characterized by an elevated number of eosinophils in the lungs and bloodstream, leading to inflammation. Symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, and fatigue. Traditionally, CEP is managed with systemic corticosteroids, which effectively reduce inflammation and provide rapid symptom relief. However, relapses are common when the medication is tapered off, particularly in patients with asthma, leading to long-term steroid use and associated side effects.

How does Anti-IgE therapy work, and why is it being considered as an alternative treatment for chronic eosinophilic pneumonia?

Anti-IgE therapy uses recombinant humanized anti-IgE antibodies to target and reduce IgE levels in the body. By reducing IgE, it helps to decrease eosinophil counts and reduce inflammation in the lungs. Anti-IgE therapy is being explored as an alternative treatment for chronic eosinophilic pneumonia because it offers a steroid-sparing approach, potentially avoiding the long-term side effects associated with systemic corticosteroids. This is especially beneficial for patients who experience frequent relapses when steroid doses are reduced.

Can you describe the outcomes observed in the cases where Anti-IgE therapy was used to treat chronic eosinophilic pneumonia?

In two documented cases, Anti-IgE therapy showed promising results. One patient, a 17-year-old male, and another, a 19-year-old male, both with histories of asthma and chronic eosinophilic pneumonia, were able to discontinue oral corticosteroids after receiving ten cycles of Anti-IgE therapy. Their symptoms and lung health were maintained for over a year with just an inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting beta-agonist (ICS/LABA) inhaler, suggesting that Anti-IgE therapy can effectively reduce the need for systemic steroids.

What are the potential benefits of using Anti-IgE therapy for chronic eosinophilic pneumonia compared to traditional treatments like corticosteroids?

The potential benefits of Anti-IgE therapy for chronic eosinophilic pneumonia include reducing or eliminating the need for long-term systemic corticosteroids, thus avoiding the side effects associated with steroid use. By targeting IgE and downregulating the allergic cascade, Anti-IgE therapy helps to reduce inflammation and eosinophil accumulation in the lungs, potentially leading to improved lung health and quality of life. While corticosteroids provide rapid symptom relief, Anti-IgE therapy offers a more targeted approach that may provide longer-term benefits with fewer adverse effects.

Given the promising results of Anti-IgE therapy for chronic eosinophilic pneumonia, what further research is needed, and what are the implications for patients currently managing this condition?

While initial findings are encouraging, more research is needed to fully understand the long-term benefits and optimal use of Anti-IgE therapy in chronic eosinophilic pneumonia. This includes larger studies to assess the therapy's efficacy across a broader patient population, determine the optimal duration and dosage of treatment, and identify which patients are most likely to benefit. For patients currently managing chronic eosinophilic pneumonia, especially those struggling with steroid dependence or experiencing frequent relapses, Anti-IgE therapy represents a potentially valuable alternative that should be discussed with their healthcare provider. Further investigation may also explore the combination of Anti-IgE therapy with other treatments to maximize its effectiveness.