Unravelling the Measles Paradox in Children (MISIA-k)

Erasmus University

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: MEASLES DISEASE

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06923631

NL-009458

Details and patient eligibility

About

Measles is caused by measles virus (MeV). The disease is associated with lymphopenia and immune suppression, which is an important cause of measles-associated morbidity and mortality. Measles-induced immune suppression can last several years, whereas measles lymphopenia is usually resolved within two weeks. At the same time, measles induces lifelong immunity. This apparent contradiction, known as the 'measles paradox', was partially solved when investigators demonstrated that MeV infects and depletes pre-existing memory cells, thereby causing 'immune amnesia'. This model is supported by observations in animal models and clinical studies, but several questions remain to be addressed, like the duration of measles-induced amnesia and changes in the immune repertoire after measles. to address the immunological questions regarding MeV infection.

Full description

Measles is caused by measles virus (MeV). The disease is associated with lymphopenia and immune suppression, which is an important cause of measles-associated morbidity and mortality. Measles-induced immune suppression can last several years, whereas measles lymphopenia is usually resolved within two weeks. At the same time, measles induces lifelong immunity. This apparent contradiction, known as the 'measles paradox', was partially solved when investigators demonstrated that MeV infects and depletes pre-existing memory cells, thereby causing 'immune amnesia'. This model is supported by observations in animal models and clinical studies, but several questions remain to be addressed, like the duration of measles-induced amnesia and changes in the immune repertoire after measles. Recently, investigators have acquired permission to address these remaining questions in 18-25 years old adults (MEC-2024-0230). However, investigators have reservations about the feasibility of including enough participants between 18 and 25 years old that have not been vaccinated against or infected with MeV; it is possible that investigators will not reach sufficient inclusions to address the immunological questions regarding MeV infection in that protocol. Therefore, investigators propose to additionally study these questions in children in the age of 4 up to and including 17.

Enrollment: 100 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 4 to 17 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Group A

• Aged 4 - 17 years old
• Susceptible to measles
• No pre-existing immunity against measles (vaccination or earlier infection)

Group B

• Aged 4 - 17 years old
• Protected against measles due to vaccination or earlier infection

Exclusion criteria

A potential subject who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

• Diagnosed chronic disease that lasted over 3 months
• Immune suppression (due to medication or underlying disease)
• Group A; Detectable MeV-antibodies in the T1 blood sample

Trial design

100 participants in 2 patient groups

Group A (max 50 inclusions)

Description:

Unprotected children with at least one sibling diagnosed with measles

Group B (max 50 inclusions)

Description:

Age matched children with detectable immunity to MeV