A Trial of Immunological Outcomes of Sublingual Immunotherapy for House Dust Mite (D. Pteronyssinus) Allergy
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2008-12-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Allergic diseases represent a major health issue worldwide. Mainstay treatment is allergen
avoidance and pharmacotherapy for symptom relief. Allergen immunotherapy offers the
advantages of specific treatment with long lasting efficacy, and can modify the course of
disease. However, use of this treatment is restricted by the high risk of adverse events
especially in asthmatics. Other, better tolerated, routes of allergen administration than the
current conventional subcutaneous route (SCIT) have been investigated including sublingual
(SLIT). However, the immune parameters of SLIT have not been examined. We propose conducting
a randomised, placebo-controlled study of a commercially-available SLIT for house dust mite
(HDM) allergy to investigate induction of relevant T cell regulatory immune mechanisms. The
first year will be followed by an optional open label extension period. Immunoregulatory
cytokine synthesis and T cell phenotype and function (real time PCR and flow cytometry) will
be examined. This project will provide important fundamental knowledge on which to base
improved and greater application of this potentially curative treatment for allergy. SLIT has
the potential advantage of home administration and suitability for patients with asthma who
are currently unable to access many of the allergen desensitising regimens.