Airway Microbial infection in patients with primary immunodeficiency
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Airway microbial community composition and inflammation in patients with primary immunodeficiency
IRAS ID
110737
Contact name
Catherine Murphy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Some individuals are born without antibodies called immunoglobulins (IgG) which protect them from infection. This is known as Primary Immunodeficiency (PID). PID increases an individual’s susceptibility to infection and is treated by replacing the missing immunoglobulin’s (IgG therapy).
Many patients with PID suffer from progressively worsening lung disease due to infection despite IgG therapy. Possibly there are bacteria growing in these patients' lungs which are not detected by routine methods. Using sensitive laboratory methods we will detect and identify bacteria in the sputum of individuals with PID and in individuals with borderline immune system abnormalities. We will also discover if the number and type of bacteria change in response to IgG therapy. This information will be related to how good the patent's breathing is (using lung function tests), to the amount of inflammation present in the lungs (by looking at markers in their sputum) and to levels of immunoglobulins in their blood.
Patients who are older than 18 years of age will be recruited from Immunology and Respiratory clinics at the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. The study has three arms. Arm A will have 20 PID patients not yet receiving IgG therapy; Arm B will have 20 PID patients receiving IgG therapy and in Arm C there will be 20 patients with immune system abnormalities of uncertain clinical significance who are not receiving IgG therapy.
Each group will be seen for one study visit which will occur during a routine outpatient appointment. Patients will be asked to provide samples of blood and sputum. Lung function will be measured and clinical information collected.
This pilot study will generate data which will be the starting point for future longitudinal studies and therapeutic clinical trials. It is hoped that findings will be used to prevent further respiratory deterioration and improve lung function.REC name
Wales REC 7
REC reference
14/WA/1186
Date of REC Opinion
9 Oct 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion