The purpose of this research study is to investigate whether sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT, grass pollen tablets under the tongue) has long term effects in severe hay fever.
This is a randomized, double-blind, single-center, placebo-controlled, three-arm study comparing SLIT with placebo and SCIT with placebo. The main comparison will be between SLIT and placebo. Individuals with severe grass pollen hay fever, with or without associated seasonal asthma, will be recruited during the pollen season of March through September 2011. Eligible participants will be randomized to one of the following three treatment arms administered in a double-blind (masked), double-dummy fashion in a 1:1:1 ratio: * SLIT + SCIT placebo * SCIT + SLIT placebo * SLIT placebo + SCIT placebo Participants will receive treatment over a 2-year period followed by a 1-year blinded (masked) withdrawal phase. Participants will be provided with anti-allergic rescue medications (antihistamine, topical intranasal corticosteroids, and short-acting beta agonists) throughout the study. Clinical endpoint assessments will be performed at prior to initiating their assigned treatment, after 1 and 2 years of treatment, and after the 1-year withdrawal period at 3 years.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
106
Participants randomized to receive sublingual allergen tablet immunotherapy with placebo injections.
Participants randomized to receive subcutaneous injection immunotherapy with placebo tablets. Subcutaneous immunotherapy was included as a positive control.
Participants randomized to double-placebo tablets and injections. This group was included as a negative control.
Royal Brompton Hospital
London, United Kingdom
Nasal Response to Allergen Challenge
Defined as the average of the Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) area under the curve (AUC) measured at 0 to 1 hours and the AUC measured at 1 to 10 hours after allergen challenge. The primary outcome consists of the comparison of SLIT + SCIT placebo versus SLIT placebo + SCIT placebo.
Time frame: 3 years
Skin Late Phase Response (LPR) to Intradermal Testing
Recorded as the mean diameter of the swelling measured at the specified time points after allergen challenge at 1, 2, and 3 years. The analysis of this outcome will compare the mean diameter of the swelling at 1, 2, and 3 years separately, adjusting for baseline diameter using ANCOVA at the 0.05 level of significance.
Time frame: Baseline (Time 0) and 1,-2, and -3 years
Skin Early Phase Response (EPR) to Intradermal Testing
Recorded as the mean diameter of the swelling measured at the specified time points after allergen challenge at 1, 2, and 3 years. The analysis of this outcome will compare the mean diameter of the swelling at 1, 2, and 3 years separately, adjusting for baseline diameter using ANCOVA at the 0.05 level of significance.
Time frame: Baseline (Time 0) and 1, -2, and -3 years
Nasal LPR
Defined as the TNSS AUC over the specified time periods after allergen challenge at 1, 2, and 3 years. The analysis of these this outcome will compare the mean TNSS AUC at 1, 2, and 3 years separately, adjusting for baseline LPR using ANCOVA at the 0.05 level of significance.
Time frame: Baseline (Time 0) and 1, -2, and -3 years
Nasal EPR
Defined as the TNSS AUC over the specified time periods after allergen challenge at 1, 2, and 3 years. The analysis of these this outcome will compare the mean TNSS AUC at 1, 2, and 3 years separately, adjusting for baseline EPR using ANCOVA at the 0.05 level of significance.
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Time frame: Baseline (Time 0) and 1, -2, and -3 years
Peak Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) EPR
Maximum TNSS score measured between 0 and 1 hour after challenge.
Time frame: Baseline (Time 0) and 1, -2, and -3 years
Peak Nasal Inspiratory Flow (PNIF) LPR
Defined as PNIF AUC over the specified time periods after allergen challenge at 1, 2 and 3 years. The analyses for this outcome will compare the mean PNIF AUC at 1, 2, and 3 years separately, adjusting for baseline PNIF using ANCOVA at the 0.05 level of significance.
Time frame: Baseline (Time 0) and 1, -2, and -3 years
Peak Nasal Inspiratory Flow (PNIF) LPR Area Under the Curve (AUC)
Defined as PNIF AUC over the specified time periods after allergen challenge at 1, 2 and 3 years. The analyses for this outcome will compare the mean PNIF AUC at 1, 2, and 3 years separately, adjusting for baseline PNIF using ANCOVA at the 0.05 level of significance.
Time frame: Baseline (Time 0) and 1, -2, and -3 years
Peak Nasal Inspiratory Flow (PNIF) EPR Area Under the Curve (AUC)
Defined as PNIF AUC over the specified time periods after allergen challenge at 1, 2 and 3 years. The analyses for this outcome will compare the mean PNIF AUC at 1, 2, and 3 years separately, adjusting for baseline PNIF using ANCOVA at the 0.05 level of significance. AUC measured hourly between 1 and 10 hours after challenge.
Time frame: Baseline (Time 0) and 1, -2, and -3 years
Skin Prick Test Endpoint Titration
Assessed as the mean wheal diameters (mm) in response to skin prick tests in duplicate with 1000 SQ, 10,000 SQ and 100,000 SQ units of grass pollen allergen.
Time frame: Baseline (Time 0) and 1, -2, and -3 years
Use of Rescue Medications During the Pollen Season
A composite rescue medication score will be derived using a pre-defined scoring algorithm.
Time frame: 1, -2, and -3 years
Mini Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality-of-Life Questionnaire Score
Mini Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (MiniRQLQ) scores will be collected pre-, peak-, and post-pollen season at 1, 2, and 3 years.
Time frame: 1, -2, and -3 years
Hay Fever Severity Score
Measured at the end of each pollen season at 1, -2, and -3 years.
Time frame: 1, 2 and 3 years
Weekly Visual Analog Symptom (VAS) Scores
Weekly Visual Analogue Scale scores will be summarized descriptively by group and year.
Time frame: 1, -2, and -3 years
EXPLORATORY: Mechanistic Assessments of Local Immune Responses
Measured in the nasal mucosa before and after nasal allergen challenge. Nasal secretions will be assayed for inflammatory mediators and local antibodies.
Time frame: 1, 2, and 3 years
EXPLORATORY: Mechanistic Assessments of Peripheral Blood Subsets
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) samples will be analyzed.
Time frame: 1, 2, and 3 years