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An Observational Study of Childhood Food Allergy

A Prospective Cohort Study of Immune Mechanisms, Genetic Factors, and Clinical and Environmental Characteristics Associated With the Occurrence and Clinical Outcome of Food Allergy (CoFAR2)

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT00356174
Enrollment
515
Registered
2006-07-25
Start date
2006-07-31
Completion date
2016-08-31
Last updated
2016-09-28

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Egg Hypersensitivity, Food Hypersensitivity, Milk Hypersensitivity, Peanut Hypersensitivity

Keywords

Food Allergy

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to observe the natural course of food allergy, including both the development of peanut allergy in infants at high risk for developing this allergy, and the resolution of both egg and cow's milk allergy.

Detailed description

This observational study will investigate the developmental immunology of peanut, egg, and milk allergy in a cohort of milk- or egg-allergic children who are at risk for peanut allergy. This strategy will help to delineate, compare, and contrast biological markers and immunologic changes associated with the development of peanut allergy and loss of egg and milk allergy, while simultaneously evaluating important clinical and environmental influences likely to account for the recent rise in the prevalence of these allergies. The hallmark of food-allergic disease is the production of food-specific Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies that represent an end result of a T helper 2 (Th2) influenced immune response. Currently, there is only a limited understanding of the mechanisms involved in the developmental course of food allergies. To effectively prevent or reverse the progression of food allergy, immune interventions will be needed. Furthermore, it is likely that successful strategies will need to be directed to those persons at identifiable risk (e.g., who have biomarkers associated with development of peanut allergy).

Interventions

None listed

Sponsors

Consortium of Food Allergy Research
CollaboratorOTHER
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Lead SponsorNIH

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
3 Months to 15 Months
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

for Children with Food Allergy: Participants who meet all of the following criteria are eligible for enrollment as study participants: * Atopic dermatitis evaluation * Either 1. A convincing clinical history of cow's milk (and/or egg) allergy and a positive prick skin test (≥ 3mm larger than the negative control) to cow's milk (and/or egg, if egg allergy history), or 2. Moderate to severe atopic dermatitis at the time of enrollment (or by a history prior to removal of milk and/or egg from the maternal (if breastfed) or infant diet) and a positive prick skin test to milk or egg, or 3. Positive oral food challenge, prior to study entry, to either milk or egg with positive skin test * Written informed consent from parent/guardian * Willing to submit specimen for central laboratory plasma peanut IgE

Exclusion criteria

for Children with Food Allergy: * Participants who meet any of these criteria are not eligible for enrollment as study participants: * Chronic disease (other than asthma, atopic dermatitis, rhinitis) requiring therapy (e.g., heart disease, diabetes) * Participation in an interventional study\* * Inability to discontinue antihistamines for routine tests * Children (other than sibling controls) from families with one child already participating in the observational study * Confirmed or convincing evidence of peanut allergy Sibling Inclusion Criteria for Mechanistic Studies: * No history of food allergy (unrestricted diet), asthma, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis (for blood sample) * Full sibling of child enrolled in study * Signed informed consent/assent as applicable Sibling

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Peanut allergy after the age of three yearsYear 10diagnosed by generally accepted, \> 95% accurate, clinical criteria such as oral food challenge.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Resolution of egg allergy after the age of three yearsYear 10determined by well established criteria with \> 95% diagnostic accuracy.
Resolution of peanut allergy after the age of three yearsYear 10determined by well established criteria with \> 95% diagnostic accuracy.
Resolution of milk allergy after the age of three yearsYear 10determined by well established criteria with \> 95% diagnostic accuracy. Additional (interval analysis) endpoints of egg and milk allergy will be explored in younger children because these allergies may resolve earlier. Common clinical allergy evaluations (e.g., prick skin tests and food-specific IgE antibodies to the 3 targeted foods and common environmental allergens) will be performed and incorporated in the diagnoses of food allergy and atopy.
Development/persistence of milk allergy after the age of three yearsYear 10determined by well established criteria with \> 95% diagnostic accuracy.
Development/persistence of egg allergyYear 10determined by well established criteria with \> 95% diagnostic accuracy.
Resolution of a positive test to peanut after the age of three years (suspected allergy category)Year 10determined by well established criteria with \> 95% diagnostic accuracy.

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026