Evaluation of a milk ladder & immune markers in clinical practice
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An exploratory investigation into the use of the milk ladder in children with IgE mediated Cows’ Milk Allergy (CMA) in the UK
IRAS ID
152728
Contact name
Yiota(Panagiota) Athanasopoulou
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 1 days
Research summary
Cow’s Milk Allergy (CMA) is one of the most common food allergies, affecting up to 2% of infants and young children in the UK. Management of CMA requires total milk avoidance, however recent studies suggest that some children are able to tolerate baked milk products and may outgrow their CMA faster than those children who cannot tolerate these foods. The appropriate timing of milk reintroduction is a challenging question for healthcare professionals. This is due to the lack of reliable tests that could indicate when a child will be able to tolerate foods containing different forms of milk. This study will investigate specific indicators by using a range of baked milk products also called a "milk ladder" and evaluate whether some immunological tests {Skin Prick Test (SPT), milk specific IgE, milk allergen components, and Basophil Activation Test (BAT)} are able to predict which children will be able to tolerate certain foods in the milk ladder. Children taking part in the study will be asked to undergo four food challenges to different foods on the ladder: muffin; lasagne; yoghurt; pasteurised/infant milk. The challenges will be conducted by the study dietitian alongside the paediatric nurse and physician at Southampton General Hospital. At the start of the first food challenge Skin Prick Test will be be carried out and blood samples will be taken by the nurse. The study will take place in the NIHR Wellcome Trust Southampton Clinical Research Facility at Southampton General Hospital.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/SC/1377
Date of REC Opinion
30 Dec 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion