Lang DM, et al. - In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, researchers determined if omalizumab administration would be associated with attenuation of aspirin-provoked bronchospasm in patients with aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) undergoing aspirin desensitization. Sixteen-week omalizumab administration in atopic AERD subjects was found to be related to “clinically silent” desensitization. Relative to those randomized to placebo, an overall difference in urinary LTE4 (urinary leukotriene E4) levels was seen in subjects who received omalizumab and did not have respiratory reaction during desensitization. Significantly higher urinary LTE4 levels were detected with respiratory reaction in placebo subjects, relative to the levels detected after the 100 mg dose in AERD subjects who had no respiratory reaction.