Patients and Selection Process
Twenty-four allergic and non-allergic adult subjects aged 18-75 with
severe bilateral nasal polyps (average bilateral endoscopic nasal polyp
total score of at least 5 out of 8 as defined below), eosinophil count
of 300/µl or greater, refractory symptoms despite prior surgical
polypectomy, and at least one oral steroid course over the previous
twelve months were recruited. Potential subjects were excluded if they
received immunosuppression or allergen immunotherapy build up in the
past 3 months. Pregnant patients, those with cancer, immune deficiency,
or helminth infection were also excluded as well as those receiving any
type of anti-interleukin therapy. The study was performed at the Johns
Hopkins University Asthma and Allergy Centre and was approved by the
Johns Hopkins IRB. All participants provided written consent.