Norwegian Birch Rust Allergy Study

Summary

This study investigates whether spores from birch rust fungi (Melampsoridium Betulinum = MB) may be the eliciting allergen in patients with seasonal airway allergy during autumn in North Norway. Patients with suspected allergy to MB are compared with non-allergic controls using data about allergic disease and daily allergic symptoms during autumn. Potential variations in allergic symptoms during season will be compared with spread of MB spores. Sensitation to MB and MB allergy are to be tested with skin prick test (SPT), measurements of spesific immunglobulin E (IgE) in serum, passive basophil activation test (pBAT) and nasal provocation test (NPT)

Conditions

• Hypersensitivity, Immediate

Interventions

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Quationnaires and symptom registration

Used to collect data about symptoms potentially characterising the allergy of MB. A shortened version of the MeDALL questionnaire (mechanisms of the development of allergic diseases) will be used to collect data about allergic diseases and symptoms. POEM questionnaire (Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure) will be used to evaluate atopic eczema once in the season of MB and once outside MB and pollen seasons. The participant will also register symptoms during two periods, preferably 6 weeks during MB season autumn (August-September) 2022 and 2 weeks outside MB and pollen seasons in January/February 2023. During the 8 weeks of symptom registration the participants will receive an e-mail every other day with questions regarding symptoms and medication.

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

PNIF and spirometry

To clarify and verify the symptoms registered by the participants we will perform measurements of Peak Nasal Inspiratory Flow (PNIF) and spirometry. PNIF and spirometry will be used to assess airway obstruction through the nose and lungs, and will be performed in and outside the seasons of MB and pollen. Spirometry will be performed pre and post inhalation of bronchodilating medicine (reversibility test). Some of the participants (patients and controls) will be randomised to nasal provocation test (NPT), performed outside the seasons of MB and pollen, and for those PNIF and spirometry will be carried out before and after NPT.

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

SPT, spesific IgE, pBAT and NPT

To evaluate the symptoms as specific for allergy the participants will be tested with skin prick test (SPT) with MB and common airway allergens, serum specific IgE (sIgE) to MB and common airway allergens, nasal provocation test (NPT) with MB and passive basophil activation test (pBAT) with MB. Blood samples for the sIgE and pBAT will be performed in MD season, while SPT and NPT will be performed outside seasons of MB and pollen. We will compare the results from SPT, sIgE and pBAT with the results from NPT to calculate sensitivity and specificity of SPT, sIgE and pBAT. All those tests demand that we are able to develop MB extracts that are suitable for those tests.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Luxembourg Institute of Health

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Oslo University Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• University Hospital of North Norway

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Martin Sørensen, PhD · University Hospital of North Norway

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

75 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-01-01

Primary Completion

2023-05-31

Completion

2023-05-31

Countries

• Norway

Study Locations