AzTrials
AzTrials

MEASLES DISEASEMISIA-kNCT06923631

Unravelling the Measles Paradox in Children

An observational study of MEASLES DISEASE, run by Erasmus Medical Center at 1 site in Netherlands.

Not yet recruiting

Opening soon. The study is approved but enrolment has not started yet. Sites may already take enquiries.

Sites and contacts
Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

Measles is caused by measles virus (MeV). The disease is associated with lymphopenia and immune suppression, which is an important cause of measles-associated morbidity and mortality. Measles-induced immune suppression can last several years, whereas measles lymphopenia is usually resolved within two weeks. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 4 to 17 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
MEASLES DISEASE
How many people
100 participants
Where
1 siteNetherlands
Study dates
3 Jan 2026to 1 Apr 2029
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 4 to 17 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Child

Study population: Children in group A will be from 4 up to and including 17 years of age and include children who are not protected against measles. Families willing to participate will self-identify them to the researchers, with the help of schools, Municipal Health Services and regional general practitioners. Children in group B will be from 4 up to and including 17 years of age and have received one or two MMR vaccinations, depending on their age. The children will be recruited from the same geographical regions with low vaccine coverage as the children in group A, for example classmates.

Who may be able to join

  • Group A
  • Aged 4 - 17 years old
  • Susceptible to measles
  • No pre-existing immunity against measles (vaccination or earlier infection)
  • Group B
  • Aged 4 - 17 years old
  • Protected against measles due to vaccination or earlier infection

Who cannot join

  • A potential subject who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:
  • Diagnosed chronic disease that lasted over 3 months
  • Immune suppression (due to medication or underlying disease)
  • Group A; Detectable MeV-antibodies in the T1 blood sample

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Dr C.H. Geurts van Kessel contact

+31643271384

c.geurtsvankessel@erasmusmc.nl

Netherlands1 site
  • ErasmusMC

    Rotterdam, South Holland, 3015GD

Other trials in Netherlands

About this study

Official title: Unravelling the Measles Paradox in Children: a Disease Associated With Both Immune Suppression and Immune Activation

Measles is caused by measles virus (MeV). The disease is associated with lymphopenia and immune suppression, which is an important cause of measles-associated morbidity and mortality. Measles-induced immune suppression can last several years, whereas measles lymphopenia is usually resolved within two weeks. At the same time, measles induces lifelong immunity. This apparent contradiction, known as the 'measles paradox', was partially solved when investigators demonstrated that MeV infects and depletes pre-existing memory cells, thereby causing 'immune amnesia'. This model is supported by observations in animal models and clinical studies, but several questions remain to be addressed, like the duration of measles-induced amnesia and changes in the immune repertoire after measles. to address the immunological questions regarding MeV infection.

Read the detailed description

Measles is caused by measles virus (MeV). The disease is associated with lymphopenia and immune suppression, which is an important cause of measles-associated morbidity and mortality. Measles-induced immune suppression can last several years, whereas measles lymphopenia is usually resolved within two weeks. At the same time, measles induces lifelong immunity. This apparent contradiction, known as the 'measles paradox', was partially solved when investigators demonstrated that MeV infects and depletes pre-existing memory cells, thereby causing 'immune amnesia'. This model is supported by observations in animal models and clinical studies, but several questions remain to be addressed, like the duration of measles-induced amnesia and changes in the immune repertoire after measles. Recently, investigators have acquired permission to address these remaining questions in 18-25 years old adults (MEC-2024-0230). However, investigators have reservations about the feasibility of including enough participants between 18 and 25 years old that have not been vaccinated against or infected with MeV; it is possible that investigators will not reach sufficient inclusions to address the immunological questions regarding MeV infection in that protocol. Therefore, investigators propose to additionally study these questions in children in the age of 4 up to and including 17.

Conditions
MEASLES DISEASE
Keywords
measles, immune response
Medical subject headings
Measles

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

Study groups in NCT06923631
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Group A (max 50 inclusions)Unprotected children with at least one sibling diagnosed with measles
Group B (max 50 inclusions)Age matched children with detectable immunity to MeV

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Compare measles-induced loss of pathogen-specific antibodies

    The investigators will measure changes in the immune repertoire using longitudinal samples obtained from children who are infected with MeV. To this end, they will measure pathogen-specific antibody responses (titers) pre- and post-measles and compare these to determine whether measles led to a loss of pathogen-specific antibodies.

    Measured: 36 months

  2. Compare measles-induced loss of pathogen-specific T-cells

    The investigators will measure changes in the immune repertoire using longitudinal samples obtained from children who are infected with MeV. To this end, they will measure pathogen-specific T-cell responses (frequencies) pre- and post-measles and compare these to determine whether measles led to a loss of pathogen-specific T-cells.

    Measured: 36 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted11 Apr 2025
  2. Study start3 Jan 2026 (estimated)
  3. Primary completion1 Apr 2029 (estimated)
  4. Study completion1 Apr 2029 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Case-control
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
100 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06923631
Sponsor's protocol ID
NL-009458
Acronym
MISIA-k
Status last verified
Nov 2025
First submitted
27 Mar 2025
Last updated
26 Nov 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Undecided

Publications

  • van Velzen E, de Coster E, van Binnendijk R, Hahne S. Measles outbreak in an anthroposophic community in The Hague, The Netherlands, June-July 2008. Euro Surveill. 2008 Jul 31;13(31):18945. No abstract available.

    PubMed 18761905
  • Mollema L, Harmsen IA, Broekhuizen E, Clijnk R, De Melker H, Paulussen T, Kok G, Ruiter R, Das E. Disease detection or public opinion reflection? Content analysis of tweets, other social media, and online newspapers during the measles outbreak in The Netherlands in 2013. J Med Internet Res. 2015 May 26;17(5):e128. doi: 10.2196/jmir.3863.

    PubMed 26013683
  • Laksono BM, de Vries RD, Verburgh RJ, Visser EG, de Jong A, Fraaij PLA, Ruijs WLM, Nieuwenhuijse DF, van den Ham HJ, Koopmans MPG, van Zelm MC, Osterhaus ADME, de Swart RL. Studies into the mechanism of measles-associated immune suppression during a measles outbreak in the Netherlands. Nat Commun. 2018 Nov 23;9(1):4944. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-07515-0.

    PubMed 30470742
  • Knol M, Urbanus A, Swart E, Mollema L, Ruijs W, van Binnendijk R, Te Wierik M, de Melker H, Timen A, Hahne S. Large ongoing measles outbreak in a religious community in the Netherlands since May 2013. Euro Surveill. 2013 Sep 5;18(36):pii=20580. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.es2013.18.36.20580.

    PubMed 24079377
  • Van Den Hof S, Smit C, Van Steenbergen JE, De Melker HE. Hospitalizations during a measles epidemic in the Netherlands, 1999 to 2000. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2002 Dec;21(12):1146-50. doi: 10.1097/00006454-200212000-00012.

    PubMed 12488666
  • Mina MJ, Kula T, Leng Y, Li M, de Vries RD, Knip M, Siljander H, Rewers M, Choy DF, Wilson MS, Larman HB, Nelson AN, Griffin DE, de Swart RL, Elledge SJ. Measles virus infection diminishes preexisting antibodies that offer protection from other pathogens. Science. 2019 Nov 1;366(6465):599-606. doi: 10.1126/science.aay6485.

    PubMed 31672891
  • Rennick LJ, de Vries RD, Carsillo TJ, Lemon K, van Amerongen G, Ludlow M, Nguyen DT, Yuksel S, Verburgh RJ, Haddock P, McQuaid S, Duprex WP, de Swart RL. Live-attenuated measles virus vaccine targets dendritic cells and macrophages in muscle of nonhuman primates. J Virol. 2015 Feb;89(4):2192-200. doi: 10.1128/JVI.02924-14. Epub 2014 Dec 3.

    PubMed 25473055
  • de Vries RD, Lemon K, Ludlow M, McQuaid S, Yuksel S, van Amerongen G, Rennick LJ, Rima BK, Osterhaus AD, de Swart RL, Duprex WP. In vivo tropism of attenuated and pathogenic measles virus expressing green fluorescent protein in macaques. J Virol. 2010 May;84(9):4714-24. doi: 10.1128/JVI.02633-09. Epub 2010 Feb 24.

    PubMed 20181691
  • Aaby P, Bukh J, Lisse IM, Smits AJ. Measles vaccination and reduction in child mortality: a community study from Guinea-Bissau. J Infect. 1984 Jan;8(1):13-21. doi: 10.1016/s0163-4453(84)93192-x.

    PubMed 6699411
  • Sato R, Haraguchi M. Effect of measles prevalence and vaccination coverage on other disease burden: evidence of measles immune amnesia in 46 African countries. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2021 Dec 2;17(12):5361-5366. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2021.2013078. Epub 2021 Dec 29.

    PubMed 34965183
  • Petrova VN, Sawatsky B, Han AX, Laksono BM, Walz L, Parker E, Pieper K, Anderson CA, de Vries RD, Lanzavecchia A, Kellam P, von Messling V, de Swart RL, Russell CA. Incomplete genetic reconstitution of B cell pools contributes to prolonged immunosuppression after measles. Sci Immunol. 2019 Nov 1;4(41):eaay6125. doi: 10.1126/sciimmunol.aay6125.

    PubMed 31672862
  • Cox RM, Wolf JD, Lieberman NA, Lieber CM, Kang HJ, Sticher ZM, Yoon JJ, Andrews MK, Govindarajan M, Krueger RE, Sobolik EB, Natchus MG, Gewirtz AT, deSwart RL, Kolykhalov AA, Hekmatyar K, Sakamoto K, Greninger AL, Plemper RK. Therapeutic mitigation of measles-like immune amnesia and exacerbated disease after prior respiratory virus infections in ferrets. Nat Commun. 2024 Feb 8;15(1):1189. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-45418-5.

    PubMed 38331906
  • Laksono BM, Roelofs D, Comvalius AD, Schmitz KS, Rijsbergen LC, Geers D, Nambulli S, van Run P, Duprex WP, van den Brand JMA, de Vries RD, de Swart RL. Infection of ferrets with wild type-based recombinant canine distemper virus overwhelms the immune system and causes fatal systemic disease. mSphere. 2023 Aug 24;8(4):e0008223. doi: 10.1128/msphere.00082-23. Epub 2023 Jun 28.

    PubMed 37377421
  • Ward BJ, Johnson RT, Vaisberg A, Jauregui E, Griffin DE. Cytokine production in vitro and the lymphoproliferative defect of natural measles virus infection. Clin Immunol Immunopathol. 1991 Nov;61(2 Pt 1):236-48. doi: 10.1016/s0090-1229(05)80027-3.

    PubMed 1914259
  • Hirsch RL, Griffin DE, Johnson RT, Cooper SJ, Lindo de Soriano I, Roedenbeck S, Vaisberg A. Cellular immune responses during complicated and uncomplicated measles virus infections of man. Clin Immunol Immunopathol. 1984 Apr;31(1):1-12. doi: 10.1016/0090-1229(84)90184-3.

    PubMed 6230187

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of MEASLES DISEASE, run by Erasmus Medical Center at 1 site in Netherlands.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 26 Nov 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Netherlands. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Dr C.H. Geurts van Kessel (+31643271384, c.geurtsvankessel@erasmusmc.nl), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Compare measles-induced loss of pathogen-specific antibodies (time frame: 36 months). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06923631, which also lists 25 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 26 Nov 2025.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in