Six‐Month Benralizumab Maintenance for Relapsing Chronic Eosinophilic Pneumonia Guided by Eosinophil Kinetics
Abstract
Idiopathic chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (ICEP) often relapses upon corticosteroid tapering. Biologics targeting interleukin-5 (IL-5) are effective, but optimal dosing intervals remain unclear. We report a case of relapsing ICEP in a patient in her 50s. Mepolizumab, an IL-5 ligand blocker, failed to maintain remission, with clinical relapse occurring 4 months after initiation. Switching to benralizumab, an interleukin-5 receptor blocker, induced rapid and deep eosinophil depletion. For optimising dosing, treatment was temporarily withheld, revealing a prolonged remission duration of 8 months before eosinophil recovery and clinical relapse. Based on these kinetics, a 6-monthly benralizumab maintenance strategy was established. The patient has remained relapse-free with zero eosinophils for over 2 years under this biannual regimen. This case suggests that benralizumab offers superior durability compared to mepolizumab in CEP due to deep depletion, enabling an extended, cost-effective dosing interval guided by individual eosinophil recovery kinetics.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Interstitial Lung Diseases and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Asthma and respiratory diseases
Eosinophilic Disorders and Syndromes
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Respirology Case Reports
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- e70515–e70515
- Publication date
- 1 February 2026
- Language
- EN