Mold Allergy in Austria: Clinical Relevance of Alternaria Alternata and Related Species

Medical University of Vienna

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Fungal Allergy; Allergy

Treatments: Diagnostic Test: Collection of nasal secretion; Diagnostic Test: Skin-Prick Test; Diagnostic Test: Nasal provocation; Diagnostic Test: Blood draw

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05101733

1318/2021

Details and patient eligibility

About

Mold allergies are becoming increasingly important among the population. Increasing amounts of fungal spores are analyzed in air-samples because of urbanization, industrialization of food products and climate change. Mold also grows indoor and hence lead to additional health complaints.

Alternaria alternata, and its only major allergen Alt a 1, is the most important fungus for allergy sufferers. Alternaria alternata can not only cause allergic symptoms but can also cause intensified asthmatic symptoms.

Besides Alternaria alternata, there are over 700 other species of the genus Alternaria. The influence of these other species on allergic symptoms is poorly understood.

Furthermore, prevalence and incidence of an allergy to Alternaria alternata among the Austrian population is not known. Estimates range between 1-5% among the Austrian population.

This study aims to further investigate the incidence and characteristics of an allergy to Alternaria in Austria. This will be investigated with the help of participants (50 Alternaria allergy sufferers and 20 non allergic participants), spore counts in Austria and crowd-sourced symptom data.

Enrollment: 70 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Participants will be healthy people over 18 years of age. Allergic participants should have an allergic reaction against Alternaria, visible in the Skin-Prick-Test. Furthermore symptom data in the pollen diary of the Austrian Pollen Information Service should be existing

Exclusion criteria

• Subjects participating in a pharmacological study, pregnant subjects and subjects with an existing infectious- and/or autoimmune disease

Trial design

70 participants in 2 patient groups

Alternaria allergy sufferers

Description:

50 people suffering from an allergy to Alternaria. These participants receive a questionnaire, a Skin-Prick-Test, a blood draw and nasal provocation with collection of nasal secretion

Treatment:

Diagnostic Test: Collection of nasal secretion

Diagnostic Test: Skin-Prick Test

Diagnostic Test: Nasal provocation

Diagnostic Test: Blood draw

Non-allergic participants

Description:

Non allergic participants (20) receive a questionnaire, a blood draw and collection of nasal secretion

Treatment:

Diagnostic Test: Collection of nasal secretion

Diagnostic Test: Blood draw