Telemedicine for SNAS Patients in COVID-19 Pandemic

There are no previous studies focused on the tele-nutrition for the evaluation of dietary-nutritional status of patients suffered from Systemic Nickel Allergic Syndrome (SNAS).

The aims of this study are (a) to investigate dietary-nutritional status (primary outcome) and, (b) to assess quality of life (QoL) and adherence to dietary therapy (secondary outcomes) of SNAS patients before and after personalized diet therapy through tele-nutrition tools at time of COVID-19 pandemic.

The investigators perform a prospective, single-center, observational study enrolling SNAS patients in order to evaluate dietary-nutritional status and QoL, before and after 30-day personalized diet therapy, and adherence to low Ni diet, through tele-nutrition tools, during COVID-19 pandemic.

The study is performed at the Allergology Unit and Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Unit of Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS in Rome, Italy.

All enrolled patients give their signed informed consent to participation in the study.

The investigators enroll patients with (a) history of SNAS (coexistence of typical cutaneous and gastrointestinal symptoms); (b) positive Nickel (Ni)-patch test; (c) clinical improvement of at least 70% from baseline after 4 weeks of low-Ni diet; (d) positivity of a double-blind placebo-controlled oral Ni challenge (DBPCO). Exclusion criteria include (a) age < 18 years and >65 years; (b) other organic gastrointestinal diseases, such as peptic ulcer, inflammatory bowel diseases, celiac disease, gastrointestinal infections, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth; (c) diabetes mellitus; (d) hepatic, renal or cardiac dysfunction; (e) thyroid disease or tumour; (f) concomitant treatment with steroids and/or antihistamines in the previous 4 weeks; (g) pregnancy and lactation; (h) smoking, abuse of alcohol, coffee, tea, and cola intake, and (i) inability to give written informed consent.

Patients go pre-diet face-to-face visit (time 0, T0), complete 30-day personalized diet and, then, go follow-up remote visit through video call (time 2, T2). A further video call is performed 15 days after the start of the diet therapy treatment (time 1, T1).

The study uses the commercially available online platform Microsoft Teams, which is included in the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS's Microsoft Office 365 package.

Variables The investigators select two primary outcome measurements (dietary assessment and anthropometric data) to evaluate dietary-nutritional status of SNAS patients. Moreover, the investigators adopt Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36v2) questionnaire as tool to evaluate QoL (secondary outcome). Finally, adherence to diet therapy (secondary outcome) is investigated through video call at T1 and T2.

Measurement

Study procedures:

T0 face-to-face visit:

• Dietary assessment: nutritional history and eating habits.
• Collection of anthropometric data.
• QoL evaluation. Each patient answers SF-36v2 (Italian version) questionnaire. At the end of visit, each patient receives one of 5 dietary plans, different only for energy intake (1400-1600-1800-2000-2100 Kcal/day). The choice depended on the personalized energy needs.

All dietary plans include foods with low-Ni content.

T1 video call visit:

• Dietary assessment: collection of anthropometric data.
• Assessment of adherence to dietary therapy through question "How many days a week did the participant adhere to the prescribed dietary treatment? - Two possible mutually exclusive answers: 1) <5 days a week, 2) ≥ 5 days a week.

T2 video call visit:

• Dietary evaluation: collection of anthropometric data.
• Assessment of adherence to the dietary treatment.
• QoL evaluation.

Inclusion criteria

• history of SNAS (coexistence of typical cutaneous and gastrointestinal symptoms);
• positive Ni-patch test;
• clinical improvement of at least 70% from baseline after 4 weeks of low-Ni diet;
• positivity of a double-blind placebo-controlled oral Ni challenge (DBPCO).

Exclusion criteria

• age < 18 years and >65 years;
• other organic gastrointestinal diseases, such as peptic ulcer, inflammatory bowel diseases, celiac disease, gastrointestinal infections, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth;
• diabetes mellitus;
• hepatic, renal or cardiac dysfunction;
• thyroid disease or tumour;
• concomitant treatment with steroids and/or antihistamines in the previous 4 weeks;
• pregnancy and lactation;
• smoking, abuse of alcohol, coffee, tea, and cola intake;
• inability to give written informed consent.