Temperature Controlled Laminar Airflow in severe paediatric eczema
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Temperature Controlled Laminar Airflow (TLA) treatment in children with severe atopic eczema – Prospective Pilot Study
IRAS ID
146635
Contact name
Claudia Gore
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London Clinical Research Office
Research summary
Eczema and allergy to house dust mite, pollen, animals or moulds are common in the UK (up to 25% of children affected). 1-2% of these children have very severe allergic eczema. Traditional treatment options include steroids, other immmunesuppressing skin treatments (such as potent steroids), general immunosuppression or ultraviolet light therapy. All these are associated with potential significant adverse effects and longterm compliance can be difficult, especially as patients often have other co-existing allergic conditions which also require treatment.
Environmental control measures to reduce dust mite or other airborne allergen exposure has not been shown to be effective so far in the treatment of eczema. The Temperature Controlled Laminar Airflow (TLA, Airsonett) device has been shown to be effective in severe allergic asthma. The TLA, which is positioned above the bed (head-end), filters the air within a person’s breathing zone and removes allergen bearing particles and has been shown to significantly reduce the number of inhaled airborne allergens. After clinical use on a small number of patients, we have observed that it may work well for severe allergic eczema.
This study will establish if there is clinical benefit using the TLA for children with very severe, medication-dependent allergic eczema. It will provide detailed information on changes in patients’ sleep patterns, allow assessment of allergen exposure in the home and will show how/if sleep and exposure are affected by using the TLA.
REC name
London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/0130
Date of REC Opinion
6 Mar 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion