Utility of Environmental Exposure Unit Challenge Protocols for the Study of Allergic Rhinitis Therapies

Hossenbaccus, Lubnaa; Steacy, Lisa M.; Walker, Terry; Ellis, Anne K.

doi:10.1007/s11882-020-00922-8

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 76 publications

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“…AECs, however, can provide consistent exposure to a known quantity of allergen, making it easier to observe and measure a person's responses. 7,8 While AECs offer many benefits, they also have some limitations. The controlled environment of an AEC may not fully represent the complex and variable nature of real-world allergen exposure.…”

Section: Backg Rou N Dmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the real world, allergen exposure is variable and often uncontrollable, making it difficult to accurately determine a person's allergic reactions. AECs, however, can provide consistent exposure to a known quantity of allergen, making it easier to observe and measure a person's responses 7,8 . While AECs offer many benefits, they also have some limitations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Clinical validation of grass pollen exposure chamber in patients with allergic rhinitis triggered by timothy grass

Kosowska,

Zemelka‐Wiącek,

Smolińska

et al. 2024

Clin Experimental Allergy

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BackgroundThe fluctuation in concentrations of airborne allergens frequently presents a challenge to assessing the efficacy of allergen immunotherapy (AIT) in ‘field’ studies. Allergen exposure chambers (AECs) are specialized medical installations developed to expose individuals to allergens at defined and consistent concentrations under a controlled environment. The aim of the study was to validate the provocation test with timothy grass pollen as well as to assess its safety in the AEC in patients with allergic rhinitis.MethodsIn the ALLEC® AEC, varying concentrations of timothy grass pollen were dispersed. Allergic symptoms were measured by total nasal symptom score (TNSS), acoustic rhinometry, peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) and nasal discharge volume. Lung function, assessed through peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), was used to evaluate safety.ResultsThe consistency of the test was proved by the stability of environmental conditions, including temperature, humidity and CO2 levels, as well as constant concentrations of grass pollen at predetermined levels ranging from 1000 to 10,000 particles per cubic meter (p/m3). Allergic individuals developed symptoms at concentrations of 3000 p/m3 and above, across all measured endpoints. Lung function was not affected throughout all the challenges. The reproducibility of symptoms was confirmed throughout the tests. The concentration of 8000 p/m3 together with a challenge duration of 120 min was found to be optimal.ConclusionThe study demonstrates that the ALLEC® grass pollen exposure chamber provides a reliable and safe method for inducing repeatable symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis. This approach can be effectively applied for allergy diagnostics and clinical endpoint determination during AIT.

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Section: Backg Rou N Dmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical validation of grass pollen exposure chamber in patients with allergic rhinitis triggered by timothy grass

Kosowska,

Zemelka‐Wiącek,

Smolińska

et al. 2024

Clin Experimental Allergy

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“…AECs have been developed for controlled challenges ideally mimicking natural exposure in the field 2,3 . AECs allow the investigation of pathological features of respiratory diseases and aid the development of pharmacological treatments and/or allergen immunotherapy (AIT) in the treatment of respiratory allergy 4–7 . There is a limited number of such facilities worldwide, which differ in size, particle generation, and particle counting manner.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… 2 , 3 AECs allow the investigation of pathological features of respiratory diseases and aid the development of pharmacological treatments and/or allergen immunotherapy (AIT) in the treatment of respiratory allergy. 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 There is a limited number of such facilities worldwide, which differ in size, particle generation, and particle counting manner. Of note, despite the rapid development of AEC, international standards have not been established to validate such objects.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validated allergen exposure chamber is plausible tool for the assessment of house dust mite‐triggered allergic rhinitis

Zemelka‐Wiącek

Kosowska

Winiarska

et al. 2022

Allergy

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Background: Allergen exposure chamber (AEC) is a clinical facility that allows exposure to allergenic airborne particles in controlled environment. Although AECs offer stable levels of airborne allergens, the validation of symptoms and other endpoints induced by allergen challenge is key for their recommendation as a plausible tool for the assessment of patients, especially in clinical research. This study aimed to demonstrate the reproducibility of defined clinical endpoints after AEC house dust mite (HDM) challenge under optimal conditions in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). Method: HDM was distributed at different concentrations. The assessment was subjective by the patients: total nasal symptom score (TNSS), visual analog scale (VAS), and objective by the investigator: acoustic rhinometry, peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF), and nasal secretion weight. Safety was assessed clinically and by peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV 1 ).Results: Constant environment: temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) concentration were maintained during all challenges. The concentration of HDM on average remained stable within the targeted values: 1000, 3000, 5000, 7000 particles (p)/m 3 . Most symptoms were observed at concentrations 3000 p/m 3 or higher. The symptoms severity and other endpoints results were reproducible. 5000 p/m 3 , and challenge duration of 120 min were found optimal. The procedure was safe with no lung function abnormalities due to challenge. Conclusion:HDM challenge in ALL-MED AEC offers a safe and reliable method for inducing symptoms in AR patients for the use in controlled clinical studies including allergen immunotherapy.

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Allergen immunotherapy: progress and future outlook

Šošić

Paolucci

Flory

et al. 2023

Expert Review of Clinical Immunology

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Utility of Environmental Exposure Unit Challenge Protocols for the Study of Allergic Rhinitis Therapies

Cited by 5 publications

References 76 publications

Clinical validation of grass pollen exposure chamber in patients with allergic rhinitis triggered by timothy grass

Clinical validation of grass pollen exposure chamber in patients with allergic rhinitis triggered by timothy grass

Validated allergen exposure chamber is plausible tool for the assessment of house dust mite‐triggered allergic rhinitis

Allergen immunotherapy: progress and future outlook

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