The purpose of this study is to determine if small oral doses of milk protein are safe and effective in decreasing sensitivity to cow's milk in allergic children.
This is a prospective, multi-center, clinical trial involving children aged 6 to 21 years with persistent cow's milk allergy. These children will be recruited from 2 sites (Johns Hopkins and Duke University) and will undergo initial screening and double-blind, placebo-controlled, food challenge (DBPCFC) to confirm threshold dose for reactivity to milk. Patients will be treated with milk oral immunotherapy (OIT) or placebo for 22-30 weeks. Those who reach an adequate maintenance dose for OIT will undergo a second DBPCFC. Those who develop desensitization will continue with daily milk intake and undergo a third DBPCFC. Those in the treatment group who are not desensitized will return to strict avoidance. Those in placebo group will be offered to begin treatment or continue with strict milk avoidance. Symptom and diet information will be collected initially and at regular intervals. Bloodwork, skin prick tests (SPTs), pulmonary function tests (PFTs), and oral secretion samples will be done initially and at periodic intervals.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
20
Milk powder given orally in escalating doses to a goal of 500 mg for approximately 23 weeks
The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina, United States
The Median Milk Threshold Dose Inducing a Reaction
Time frame: Baseline and 23 weeks
Changes in Cow Milk-IgE
IgE is measured in kilounits per liter (kU/L). Measurements were obtained at Baseline and at 23 weeks
Time frame: Baseline and 23 weeks
Changes in Cow Milk Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)
IgG4 is measured in ug/mL. Measurements were obtained at Baseline and at 23 weeks
Time frame: Baseline and 23 weeks
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