Intranasal diagnostics in food allergy (INDY): a feasibility study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Intranasal diagnostics in food allergy: a feasibility study (INDY project) - Determination of intranasal allergen threshold to food proteins in children with food allergy
IRAS ID
157241
Contact name
Paul Turner
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Research summary
Food allergy affects up to 6% of UK children. Management involves dietary elimination which impairs quality of life and results in significant anxiety on the part of both the family, those charged with the child's care (e.g. school staff) and the child. The gold standard for diagnosis is the oral food challenge (OFC), where a child eats increasing doses of the allergen in question under medical supervision. These are costly, time-consuming and not without risk due to the potential for inducing systemic allergic reactions. Safer and less burdensome food allergy diagnostics, which can be performed in the outpatient setting, are thus an important goal.
We propose that intranasal mucosal challenges may offer improved accuracy of diagnosis compared to current measures of sensitisation. Intranasal challenges take under an hour, are not associated with systemic symptoms and could be performed in the out patient setting. This would benefit both the patient and their family (in terms of shorter hospital appointment for food challenge) as well as improve the clinical service through the demonstration of true clinical reactivity (rather than just sensitisation) in more patients using a faster procedure than the OFC.
In this study, we will assess the effect of food (peanut, egg, cow's milk, soya, wheat) protein administered into the nasal airway resulting in a physiological response in children with a corresponding food allergy. We hope to use this data to develop a testing strategy which can be used throughout the NHS in non-tertiary settings to improve the diagnosis of food allergy.
REC name
West Midlands - Edgbaston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/WM/0185
Date of REC Opinion
30 Jun 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion