Walter Cestaro

Dr. Walter Cestaro

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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GOGiancarlo Ottaviano
Giancarlo Ottaviano
GRGiuseppe Roccuzzo
Giuseppe Roccuzzo
LLLucia Lora
Lucia Lora
EBElisabetta Bison
Elisabetta Bison
ETEnrico Tosin
Enrico Tosin
PNPiero Nicolai
Piero Nicolai
Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) in the severe forms is associated with a poor quality of life. Dupilumab has been suggested as an add-on treatment option for severe CRSwNP. Severe CRSwNP patients treated with Dupilumab in different rhinological units were considered for this study via their evaluation at the baseline at first and the consequential follow-up at 6-, 12-, and 24 months from the first administration. At baseline (T0) and at each follow-up, patients underwent NPS, Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT)-22, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for smell, and Sniffin’ sticks identification test (SSIT). The SNOT-22 domains for function and emotion were also analysed separately. Two hundred and seventeen patients with at least 6 months of follow-up were included. All parameters have improved during treatment (p < 0.0001). Noticeably, both the function and emotion SNOT-22 domains have improved within 6 months of treatment and have continued to progress during every interval within 12 months from the baseline, positively influencing patients’ emotivity and augmenting their social and economic performances. Dupilumab improves the QoL of CRSwNP patients with good effects on the reported productivity and emotional health. Clinicians should pay attention to these two aspects when dealing with patients affected by severe CRSwNP.

26 February 2026 in Preprints.org
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Preprint
Open access
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FMFrancesco Menzella
Francesco Menzella
ABAlvise Berti
Alvise Berti
WCWalter Cestaro
Walter Cestaro
ABAnnamaria Bosi
Annamaria Bosi
SMSara Munari
Sara Munari
Eugenio De CorsoEugenio De Corso
Eugenio De Corso
Background: "Remission" is a primary therapeutic goal in severe asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), though definitions vary regarding olfactory function. We evaluated "Dual Remission" kinetics in patients treated with dupilumab over 24 months. Methods: This single-center retrospective study analyzed 28 patients with comorbid severe asthma and CRSwNP. Dual Remission was defined as simultaneous asthma remission (ACT ≥ 20, no exacerbations, no OCS) and CRSwNP remission (SNOT-22 < 40, NPS ≤ 1). We additionally analyzed "Complete Recovery" by applying a stricter composite definition requiring the restoration of normosmia (Sniffin’ Sticks score ≥ 12). Results: At baseline, patients exhibited uncontrolled disease (median ACT 19, NPS 6). Treatment led to rapid asthma remission (85.7% at 12 months, 100% at 24 months). CRSwNP remission was slower but progressive, rising from 57% at 12 months to 88% at 24 months, demonstrating a significant "catch-up" phenomenon. Consequently, Dual Remission rates increased from 54% to 88% by month 24. However, when requiring normosmia for "Complete Recovery," only 32% met the criteria, revealing that 56% achieved clinical silence yet remained hyposmic. Conclusion: Dupilumab is highly effective, enabling 88% of patients to achieve Dual Remission after 24 months. However, full olfactory restitution is distinct from structural polyp regression and harder to achieve, likely due to persistent neuroepithelial damage.

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
FMFrancesco Menzella
Francesco Menzella
ABAlvise Berti
Alvise Berti
WCWalter Cestaro
Walter Cestaro
ABAnnamaria Bosi
Annamaria Bosi
SMSara Munari
Sara Munari
Eugenio De CorsoEugenio De Corso
Eugenio De Corso
Background: “Remission” is a primary therapeutic goal in severe asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), though definitions vary regarding olfactory function. We evaluated “Dual Remission” kinetics in patients treated with dupilumab over 24 months. Methods: This single-center retrospective study analyzed 28 patients with comorbid severe asthma and CRSwNP. Dual Remission was defined as simultaneous asthma remission (ACT ≥ 20, no exacerbations, no OCS and stable lung function) and CRSwNP remission (SNOT-22 < 40, NPS ≤ 1). We additionally analyzed “Complete Recovery” by applying a stricter composite definition requiring the restoration of normosmia (Sniffin’ Sticks score ≥ 12). Results: At baseline, patients exhibited uncontrolled disease (median ACT 19, NPS 6). Treatment led to rapid asthma remission (85.7% at 12 months, 100% at 24 months). CRSwNP remission was slower but progressive, rising from 57% at 12 months to 88% at 24 months, demonstrating a significant “catch-up” phenomenon. Consequently, Dual Remission rates increased from 54% to 88% by month 24. When applying the stricter “Complete Recovery” criteria requiring normosmia, only 32% met the goal. Conclusion: Dupilumab is highly effective, enabling 88% of patients to achieve Dual Remission after 24 months. However, full olfactory restitution is distinct from structural polyp regression and harder to achieve, likely due to persistent neuroepithelial damage.

26 July 2026 in Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
FMFrancesco Menzella
Francesco Menzella
Eugenio De CorsoEugenio De Corso
Eugenio De Corso
Marco CaminatiMarco Caminati
Marco Caminati
WCWalter Cestaro
Walter Cestaro
Laura VenturaLaura Ventura
Laura Ventura
GOGiancarlo Ottaviano
Giancarlo Ottaviano