Single-blind, within-block randomized, clean-air-controlled study to assess the effect of lactose and sodium chloride particles in patients with allergic rhinitis on nasal symptoms when challenged in the Fraunhofer Allergen Challenge Chamber
Allergen Challenge Chambers (ACC) are used worldwide since many years to test anti-allergic treatment in early clinical development. ACCs provide the advantage of controlled atmospheres with stable allergen load and highly reproducible symptoms during challenges. The Fraunhofer ACC has been used since more than 20 years to test a range of different anti-allergic treatments, mostly using pollen challenges. For house dust mite (HDM) challenges, a carrier solution containing lactose or sodium chloride is reconstituted with commercially available HDM allergen. The solution is spray-dried to create allergen loaded lactose or sodium chloride particles of a determined size. Those particles are distributed in the ACC. Whether lactose or sodium chloride particles alone could induce nasal irritation during allergen challenges, has not been examined. Should allergen-free carrier solutions contribute to nasal symptoms, study results might be confounded. Even more so, if one carrier solution caused more nasal irritation than the other. To determine if allergen-free carrier solutions alone irritate the nasal mucosa, we expose subjects with allergic rhinitis and house dust mite allergy to three different atmospheres: (1) lactose particles alone, (2) sodium chloride particles alone, and (3) clean air. Also, we aim to document nasal symptoms during challenges with HDM-containing carrier solutions to decide on the best carrier option for future clinical trials.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
19
Patients are exposed to sodium chloride particles alone for 4 hours in the Fraunhofer Allergen Challenge Chamber.
Patients are exposed to lactose particles alone for 4 hours in the Fraunhofer Allergen Challenge Chamber.
Patients are exposed to clean air for 4 hours in the Fraunhofer Allergen Challenge Chamber.
Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine
Hanover, Lower Saxony, Germany
Change of mean total nasal symptom score (TNSS) during challenge over 4 hours with either lactose or sodium chloride particles compared to challenges with clean air.
TNSS = Total Nasal Symptom Score (min = 0 = no symptoms; max = 12 = max symptoms)
Time frame: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
Change of mean VAS of symptoms during challenge over 4 hours with either lactose or sodium chloride particles compared to challenges with clean air
VAS = Visual Analogue Scale (min = 0 = no symptoms; max = 10 = max symptoms)
Time frame: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
Difference in nasal secretion weight during challenge over 4 hours with either lactose or sodium chloride particles compared to challenges with clean air
Pre-weighed handkerchief sachets used by subjects during challenge are weighed after use to determine nasal secretion amount
Time frame: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
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Patients are exposed to sodium chloride particles coupled with D. pteronyssinus for 4 hours in the Fraunhofer Allergen Challenge Chamber.
Patients are exposed to lactose particles coupled with D. pteronyssinus for 4 hours in the Fraunhofer Allergen Challenge Chamber.