A PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL OF A HEPA AIR CLEANER IN THE TREATMENT OF CAT ALLERGY

To evaluate the effect of a room high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA ) cleaner on cat-induced asthma and rhinitis, 35 cat-allergic subjects who were living with one or more cats were studied in a double-blind, placebo controlled trial. After a 1 mo baseline period, subjects' bed rooms were equipped with an active or placebo air cleaner for the foll owing 3 mo. Evaluations included monthly measurement of cat-allergen l evels, daily morning, afternoon, and nighttime nasal- and chest-sympto m scores, twice-daily measurement of peak-flow rates, daily medication scores, monthly spirometry, and methacholine (MCh) challenge testing before and after the study. Airborne allergen levels were reduced in t he active-filter group as compared with the placebo group (p = 0.045). However, no differences were detected in settled-dust allergen levels (p = 0.485), morning, afternoon, or nighttime nasal-symptom scores (p = 0.769, 0.534 and 0.138), chest-symptom scores (p = 0.388, 0.179, an d 0.215), sleep disturbance (p = 0.101), morning or afternoon peak-flo w rates (p = 0.424 and 0.679), or rescue medication use (nasal, p = 0. 164 chest, p = 0.650), respectively Although the combination of a HEPA room air cleaner, mattress and pillow covers, and cat exclusion from the bedroom did reduce airborne cat-allergen levels, no effect on dise ase activity was detected for any parameter studied.