HDM and Silver Birch NAC Standardisation

Nasal allergen challenge (NAC) is a useful tool in the investigation of allergic rhinitis, including grass pollen-induced seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever). The investigators have experience in using NAC to investigate the clinical and immunological effects of allergen exposure and in using NAC as a surrogate outcome to assess the efficacy of treatments for allergic rhinitis. The procedure is safe and well tolerated.

For NAC to be a valid tool, it is essential that the allergen extracts used are standardised in terms of concentration and stability in solution. The investigators recently undertook a study comparing the effects of two different grass pollen allergen extracts when used for NAC. The investigators found that the use of a lyophilizate pollen tablet, designed for sublingual immunotherapy treatment, was a suitable alternative to using dissolved dry powder allergen, designed for subcutaneous immunotherapy treatment. The study was necessary because the dry powder product was being phased out by the manufacturer.

The investigators now intend to undertake a similar study using lyophilizate tablets for two further common environmental allergens, house dust mite and silver birch tree pollen. The products used will be as follows: Acarizax® House Dust Mite lyophilizate tablet and Itulazax® Silver Birch Pollen lyophilizate tablet, both manufactured by ALK-Abello, Denmark.

House dust mite (HDM) is the most common indoor allergen trigger in individuals with allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma in the UK; silver birch (SB) pollen is a common cause of springtime hay fever. This will allow us to determine the suitability of using lyophilizate tablets as an allergen source for NAC for these two allergens in future interventional studies.

In this study, the investigators will recruit 20 volunteers with house dust mite induced allergic rhinitis (+/- controlled asthma) and 20 volunteers with silver birch pollen induced allergic rhinitis (+/- controlled asthma); individuals allergic to both allergens will be eligible for both parts of the study. HDM allergic volunteers will undergo a graded, up-dosing NAC with HDM allergen tablet extract; SB allergic volunteers will undergo a graded, up-dosing NAC with SB allergen tablet extract; dual allergic individuals will be given the option of undergoing challenges to both allergens, at least 4 weeks apart.

Recorded outcomes will include the participant-reported symptom score (total nasal symptom score, TNSS, range 0-12) and peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF, L/min) during the NAC. The primary endpoint will be the area under the curve for TNSS during NAC with each allergen. Secondary endpoints will include area under the curve for change from baseline PNIF during NAC, the modal allergen dose required to give a TNSS of 7/12 ('provoking dose 7' ), peak TNSS score, maximal % fall in PNIF, and the absolute sneeze count.

Following the above, the investigators will then undertake nasal challenges using the identified 'provoking dose 7' for each allergen on 5 individuals from the other part of the cohort (i.e. test the HDM 'provoking dose 7' on 5 of the participants with SB allergy but no HDM allergy and vice versa) and also on 5 non-atopic individuals (no history of allergic rhinitis or asthma, negative skin tests to common environmental allergens), to prove the NAC is allergen specific and non-irritant.

The study will have two arms, one for HDM allergic individuals, one for SB allergic individuals, running concurrently. Dual allergic individuals may be included in both arms. Within each arm, up to 20 participants will undergo NAC with the relevant allergen. The NAC procedure will involve baseline TNSS and PNIF scores prior to intervention, then the same scores at 10 minutes after challenges with allergen at the following concentrations: 0 BU/mL (saline 1); 0 BU/mL (saline 2); 100 BU/mL; 500 BU/mL; 1,500 BU/mL; 5,000 BU/mL; 10,000 BU/mL, with 15 minutes between doses. Area under the curve for TNSS will be calculated for each NAC, along with the first concentration provoking a TNSS of ≥7/12. The NAC will continue to the top concentration of 10,000 BU/mL regardless of TNSS score, unless the participant has very bothersome symptoms and prefers not to continue.

For individuals allergic to both allergens, a minimum gap of 4 weeks will be required between the two NACs.

Following completion of the above and identification of the 'provoking dose 7' for each allergen, 5 single-sensitised (i.e. HDM or SB but not both) participants will return for a further NAC with the allergen to which they are not sensitised (a minimum of 4 weeks after their last NAC). The procedure will involve baseline TNSS and PNIF scores prior to intervention, then the same scores at 10 minutes after challenges with allergen at the following concentrations: 0 BU/mL (saline 1); 'provoking dose 7' BU/mL. Additionally, 5 non-atopic individuals will be recruited to attend for a single visit for NAC as follows: 0 BU/mL (saline 1); 'provoking dose 7' for HDM BU/mL; 0 BU/mL (saline 2); 'provoking dose 7' for SB BU/mL, with TNSS and PNIF measured as before.

Individuals with a history of seasonal allergic rhinitis in February-May and/or a history of perennial allergic rhinitis, suspected to be provoked by house dust mite exposure, for at least the past two years, will be invited for screening. Volunteers will need to avoid taking antihistamines for 5 days prior to screening to allow for skin testing. Up to forty volunteers (fewer if individuals are dual allergic and wish to take part in both arms of the study) who pass the inclusion and exclusion criteria (see below) and are willing to provide written, informed consent will be enrolled into the study. A minimum of five non-atopic individuals with no history of rhinitis who pass the inclusion and exclusion criteria (see below) will be enrolled into the control arm of the study. They will then undertake a single visit, as above.

Single allergen allergic individuals will undertake 1-2 visits after screening: Visit 1, all, challenge to relevant allergen; Visit 2, a minimum of 5, challenge to irrelevant allergen.

Dual allergen allergic individuals will undertake 1-2 visits after screening: Visit 1, all, challenge to allergen identified by participant and study doctor as the primary cause of their symptoms; Visit 2, as per participants preference, challenge to the other allergen.

Non-atopic volunteers will undertake a single visit after screening.