Pilot Study of Allergy Immunotherapy and Prevention of Viral Respiratory Infections

West Penn Allegheny Health System

Status: Completed

Conditions: Perennial Allergic Rhinitis; Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis; Allergy

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00405899

RC - 4064

Details and patient eligibility

About

The objective of this study is to determine whether there is a relationship between interferon-gamma levels and the incidence of viral respiratory infections in allergic children treated with allergy immunotherapy as compared to those treated with standard medical care (nasal steroids, antihistamines) over a 1-year period. The hypotheses to be tested are 1) interferon-gamma levels will be significantly increased 3, 6, 9 and 12 months in allergic children treated with allergy immunotherapy as compared to those treated with standard medical care, 2) the incidence of viral respiratory infections will be reduced at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months in allergic children treated with allergy immunotherapy as compared to those treated with standard medical care.

Full description

This study will consist of five visits. Visit 1 will occur after subjects complete an initial clinical evaluation for allergy at this site. Subjects will select their treatment (allergy immunotherapy as compared to standard medical care) prior to enrollment in this study.

Visit 1 will include informed consent, review of inclusion and exclusion criteria and phlebotomy for the determination of serum interferon-gamma levels. At the end of this visit, diary cards to capture the frequency of symptoms of viral respiratory infections will be distributed. Visits 2-5 will occur 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after visit 1 and will include review/exchange of diary cards, and phlebotomy for determination of serial serum interferon-gamma levels.

Enrollment: 20 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 6 to 18 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age 6-18 years of age
• History of allergic rhinitis as confirmed by previous allergy skin testing conducted within the past year
• Subjects assigned to the allergy immunotherapy must be prescribed therapy according to national recommendations using FDA-approved allergy extracts supplied by Greer Laboratories

Exclusion criteria

• Concurrent difficult to control asthma or an underlying immune deficiency

Trial design

20 participants in 2 patient groups

Immunotherapy

Description:

Patients starting immunotherapy

Non-immunotherapy

Description:

Patients being treated using methods other than immunotherapy