Francesca Cefaloni

Dr. Francesca Cefaloni


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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14 May 2025 in Allergy
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
JGJessica Gates
Jessica Gates
FHFaizan Haris
Faizan Haris
FCFrancesca Cefaloni
Francesca Cefaloni
PKPaniz Khooshemehri
Paniz Khooshemehri
LGLinda Green
Linda Green
DJDavid J. Jackson
David J. Jackson
Introduction: Tezepelumab is an anti‐TSLP monoclonal antibody approved for the treatment of severe asthma. It has broad downstream anti‐T2 effects, offering the prospect of biological remission. Real‐world data on clinical remission rates with tezepelumab is lacking, and the relationship between clinical and biological remission is unclear. Finally, the effectiveness of tezepelumab in patients who have failed to respond to existing biologic therapies is unknown.Methods: Clinical and biomarker data from adults with severe asthma treated with tezepelumab in a real‐world setting was analyzed. Clinical outcome measures including clinical remission were recorded along with rates of biological remission (defined as blood eosinophil count < 300 cells/mcL and FeNO < 25 ppb).Results: One hundred seventy‐five patients were included. 98/175 (56%) had switched from another biologic. Following tezepelumab initiation, the exacerbation rate decreased from 3.1 (2.5) to 0.8 (1.4), with 59% of patients remaining exacerbation‐free at 1 year. 54% achieved an ACQ score < 1.5. Clinical remission at 1 year was observed in 36%, with a rate of 55% in T2‐high patients versus 19% in T2 low patients. The clinical response in biologic‐naïve and biologic switch patients was similar. FeNO declined from 41 ppb (24–76) to 24 ppb (16–38) and BEC fell from 300 cells/μL (60–610) to 180 cells/μL (105–320) (both p < 0.001). 38% achieved biological remission. 15% attained both clinical and biological remission.Conclusion: Tezepelumab led to substantial clinical improvements and clinical remission in up to 55% of T2‐high patients with severe asthma. A disconnect between clinical and biological remission was observed. The long‐term significance of residual T2 inflammation on tezepelumab is unknown.

23 September 2024 in Journal of Personalized Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Eugenio De CorsoEugenio De Corso
Eugenio De Corso
DMDario Antonio Mele
Dario Antonio Mele
Angela RizziAngela Rizzi
Angela Rizzi
CSCamilla Spanu
Camilla Spanu
MCMarco Corbò
Marco Corbò
Jacopo GalliJacopo Galli
Jacopo Galli
Background/Objectives: Benralizumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets the interleukin-5 receptor (IL-5Rα), leading to the rapid depletion of blood eosinophils. RCTs have demonstrated efficacy in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA). The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of benralizumab on sinonasal outcomes in a real-life setting in patients with SEA and concomitant chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). Methods: We included 25 patients (mean age: 57.47 years, range: 35–77, F/M = 12:13) who were prescribed 30 mg benralizumab every month for the first three administrations and then every 2 months. The primary endpoint was to evaluate changes in the SinoNasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22) and nasal polyp score (NPS) over a 24-month treatment period. Secondary endpoints included measuring the effects on nasal obstruction and impaired sense of smell. Results: The mean NPS score decreased significantly from 5.11 ± 1.84 at baseline to 2.37 ± 1.96 at 24 months. The mean SNOT-22 decreased from 57 ± 15.30 at baseline to 26 ± 16.73 at 24 months. The SSIT-16 mean score improved with an increase in olfactory performance from 5.23 ± 2.58 at baseline to 7 ± 3.65 at 24 months. Moreover, 8/25 patients (32%) required rescue treatment with systemic steroids and 2 patients required endoscopic sinus surgery. Conclusions: While the improvement may not seem optimal at 12 months, a progressive enhancement was noted during the second year of treatment. Despite our data showing an improvement in quality of life and a reduction in the size of nasal polyps, no significant improvement in olfactory sensitivity was observed. In addition, in several patients, rescue treatments were required to maintain control of nasal and sinus symptoms. A careful risk–benefit assessment is therefore needed when deciding to continue treatment, weighing the potential for further improvement against the risks of complications. Such decisions should always be made in the context of a multidisciplinary team.

18 March 2024 in Clinical and Translational Allergy
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
ARAnne‐Lotte Redel
Anne‐Lotte Redel
Wojciech FeleszkoWojciech Feleszko
Wojciech Feleszko
AAAlessandra Arcolaci
Alessandra Arcolaci
FCFrancesca Cefaloni
Francesca Cefaloni
MAMarina Atanaskovic‐Markovic
Marina Atanaskovic‐Markovic
EDEaaci Task Force On Conscious And Rational Use Of Antibiotics In Allergic Diseases
Eaaci Task Force On Conscious And Rational Use Of Antibiotics In Allergic Diseases
Introduction: Guidelines recommend treating asthma exacerbations (AAEs) with bronchodilators combined with inhaled and/or systemic corticosteroids. Indications for antibiotic prescriptions for AAEs are usually not incorporated although the literature shows antibiotics are frequently prescribed.Aim: To investigate the antibiotic prescription rates in AAEs and explore the possible determining factors of those practices.Methods: A digital survey was created to determine the antibiotic prescription rates in AAEs and the influencing factors for the prescription practices. The survey was distributed among European academy of allergy and clinical immunology (EAACI) members by mass emailing and through regional/national societies in the Netherlands, Italy, Greece, and Poland. Furthermore, we retrieved local antibiotic prescription rates.Results: In total, 252 participants completed the survey. Respondents stated that there is a lack of guidelines to prescribe antibiotics in AAEs. The median antibiotic prescription rate in this study was 19% [IQR: 0%–40%] and was significantly different between 4 professions: paediatrics 0% [IQR: 0%–37%], pulmonologists 25% [IQR: 10%–50%], general practitioners 25% [IQR: 0%–50%], and allergologists 17% [IQR: 0%–33%]) (p = 0.046). Additional diagnostic tests were performed in 71.4% of patients before prescription and the most common antibiotic classes prescribed were macrolides (46.0%) and penicillin (42.9%). Important clinical factors for health care providers to prescribe antibiotics were colorised/purulent sputum, abnormal lung sounds during auscultation, fever, and presence of comorbidities.Conclusion: In 19% of patients with AAEs, antibiotics were prescribed in various classes with a broad range among different subspecialities. This study stresses the urgency to compose evidence‐based guidelines to aim for more rational antibiotic prescriptions for AAE.

13 October 2025 in Allergy
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
ARAnne‐Lotte Redel
Anne‐Lotte Redel
Wojciech FeleszkoWojciech Feleszko
Wojciech Feleszko
MMMarina Atanasković Marković
Marina Atanasković Marković
AAAlessandra Arcolaci
Alessandra Arcolaci
ABAvraham Beigelman
Avraham Beigelman
GTGerdien Tramper‐Stranders
Gerdien Tramper‐Stranders

24 April 2025 in Journal of Clinical Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MBMatteo Bonini
Matteo Bonini
CBCristina Boccabella
Cristina Boccabella
FCFrancesca Cefaloni
Francesca Cefaloni
Eugenio De CorsoEugenio De Corso
Eugenio De Corso
FDFederico Donfrancesco
Federico Donfrancesco
LRLuca Richeldi
Luca Richeldi
Mepolizumab represents an effective strategy for severe eosinophilic asthma. Small airways disease (SAD) defines a peculiar asthma phenotype related to worse disease control. Limited and indirect findings are currently available on the effect of mepolizumab on SAD. Objectives: We investigated the impact of mepolizumab on SAD assessed through impulse oscillometry (IOS) and spirometry. As secondary outcomes, we tested the correlation between SAD and clinical, functional and inflammatory parameters. Methods: This is a prospective cohort study including severe eosinophilic asthmatics eligible for mepolizumab performed between 2021 and 2023. IOS (R5–R20) and spirometry (FEF25-75%, TLC%, RV/TLC%) parameters were assessed at baseline and over 1 year of mepolizumab. Other functional (FEV1%), clinical (ACT, number of asthma exacerbations/previous year, use of OCS) and inflammatory data (BEC and FeNO) were concomitantly collected for correlations. Results: A total of 18 patients (mean age 61.1 ± 12.0 y; 10 (55.5%) female) were included. Longitudinal data from 16 patients showed that R5–R20 significantly improved after 12-months treatment (p: 0.03), as well as FEF25-75% (p: 0.04) and TLC% (0.04). FEV1% and ACT showed a concomitant improvement (p: 0.03 and <0.01, respectively). All the steroid-dependent subjects discontinued OCS after 3 months and the percentage of subjects experiencing exacerbations significantly decreased (p: <0.01). As per drug effect, BEC consistently decreased (p: <0.01). The decrease in R5–R20 correlated with an improvement in FEF25-75% (r: −0.40 p: 0.048) and ACT at T12 (r: −0.59 p: 0.02). Conclusions: Twelve months treatment with mepolizumab improved R5–R20, suggesting its additional role as a targeted treatment for distal lung regions. This improvement also correlated with a clinically relevant amelioration of asthma symptoms.

23 January 2026 in American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
FCFrancesca Cefaloni
Francesca Cefaloni
AMAnne-Catherine Maynard-Paquette
Anne-Catherine Maynard-Paquette
ARAjerico Del Rosario
Ajerico Del Rosario
JGJessica Gates
Jessica Gates
FHFaizan Haris
Faizan Haris
DJDavid J Jackson
David J Jackson