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NCT Number: NCT06260956

Expecting Mother's Study of Consumption or Avoidance of Peanut and Egg

Peanut allergy is the most common cause of fatal and near-fatal food-allergic reactions and egg allergy is among the two most common causes of food-induced anaphylaxis. The proposed research will explore the development of sensitization to these food(s) in infants based on maternal consumption or avoidance during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

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Key information

Age range

1 day and older

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Rochester

Rochester, New York, 14642, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Kirsi Jarvinen-Seppo, MD, PhD

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

About this study

The goals of this study include defining the role of egg and peanut consumption or avoidance during pregnancy and via human milk in food sensitization and identifying the underlying biological mechanisms leading to sensitization or tolerance. The study population will include 500 mother/infant dyads who plan to exclusively feed breastmilk to healthy infants. We expect approximately 25% will be recruited locally and the rest from across the United States. This is a national, parallel, two arm, one-to-one allocation, single blinded, randomized controlled trial. Each arm of the study defines maternal diet from 27 weeks gestation through their baby's fourth month with some consuming peanut and egg and some avoiding these foods.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • o Subject must be able to understand and provide informed consent.
  • Mothers will be English-speaking adults, 18 years or older. (Spanish speaking adults may be included after consent document is translated and Spanish speaking study representatives are available to conduct and answer questions during informed consent process and for study follow up.)
  • Maternal consent must be provided for infants.
  • Pregnant women from the time pregnancy is confirmed until 27 weeks of gestation.
  • Self-reported at time of enrollment:
  • no chronic inflammatory conditions that require long-term systemic immunosuppressive medications in first or second trimester
  • carrying a fetus with a first-degree relative (i.e., mother, father, full sibling) with any self-reported or physician-diagnosed allergic disease (asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, or food allergy).
  • Intend to give their infant their own breast milk for more than 3 months.
  • Can confidently say they have eaten PN and egg and have tolerated consumption with no food allergy reactions.
  • Willing to be randomized to consumption or avoidance diet.
  • Uncomplicated pregnancy (no gestational diabetes, no preeclampsia, no hyperemesis gravidarum), self-reported at time of enrollment.

Infants will be minimum age, 1 day (birth), through 365 days (12 months).

Exclusion criteria

  • Inability or unwillingness of subject to give written informed consent or comply with study protocol.
  • Known history of renal/liver/cardiac insufficiency in the mother or infant.
  • Pregnant women with PN or egg allergy.
  • Pregnant women who refuse to eat PN (or peanut products) and/or eggs.
  • Physician diagnosed immunodeficiency in the mother or infant.
  • Current, diagnosed, mental illness or current, diagnosed, or self-reported, drug or alcohol abuse that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with the subject's ability to comply with study requirements.
  • Past or current medical problems or findings from medical history that are not listed above, which, in the opinion of the investigator, may pose additional risks to the mother or infant from participation in the study, may interfere with the subject's ability to comply with study requirements or that may impact the quality or interpretation of the data obtained from the study.

Treatment and study plan

Consumption

Behavioral

Subjects consume peanut and egg from 27 weeks of pregnancy through the first 4 months feeding breastmilk to their infant.

Avoidance

Behavioral

Subjects avoid eating peanut and egg from 27 weeks of pregnancy through the first 4 months feeding breastmilk to their infant.

Primary outcomes

  1. Egg or peanut sensitization

    Time frame: four months

    Determine the proportion of high-risk infants who have developed egg or peanut sensitization at four months (prior to introduction of these foods to the infant).

Secondary outcomes

  1. Peanut and egg specific IgG and IgG4

    Time frame: four months

    Levels of infant peanut and egg specific IgG and IgG4

  2. Antibodies in maternal blood

    Time frame: four months

    Quantify egg- and PN-specific IgG and IgG4 antibody concentrations in maternal blood measured during pregnancy and at four months.

  3. Egg allergy

    Time frame: 12 months

    Questionnaire for parents to report any signs of egg allergy in their child.

  4. Egg and peanut specific IgE

    Time frame: four months

    Measure levels of infant egg- and peanut-specific IgE.

Other outcomes

  1. Exploratory: Peanut sensitization

    Time frame: four months

    The proportion of high-risk infants who have developed peanut sensitization

  2. Exploratory: Egg sensitization

    Time frame: four months

    Proportion of infants who develop egg sensitization.

  3. Exploratory: Symptoms

    Time frame: four months

    Questionnaire for parents to report symptoms of non-IgE mediated food allergy

  4. Exploratory: Peanut sensitization 12 months

    Time frame: 12 months

    Questionnaire for parents to report signs of peanut allergy

  5. Mechanistic: antigen level

    Time frame: four months

    Measure PN and egg antigen levels in house dust and human milk

  6. Mechanistic: IgG levels

    Time frame: four months

    Quantify PN- and egg-specific IgG antibody levels in maternal serum and human milk.

  7. Mechanistic: T cell

    Time frame: four months

    Phenotype infant T cell populations in cord blood and infant blood.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Allison W Leadley, MPH

CONTACT

[email protected]

585-275-4640

Elizabeth Catlin

CONTACT

[email protected]

585-895-3911

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Rochester

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Registry information

Acronym: ESCAPE

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2028
Study completion
2029
First posted
Feb 15, 2024
Registry last updated
Jul 20, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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