An observational study in MEASLES DISEASE, sponsored by Erasmus Medical Center. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Netherlands. Open to participants aged 4 Years to 17 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-11-26.
Sponsored by Erasmus Medical Center · Observational
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.
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.
134 studies on the registry are indexed under Measles; 17 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 100 is below the median of 282 across 26 observational studies indexed under Measles.
Browse Measles studies →Erasmus Medical Center is the lead sponsor of 478 studies on the registry; 183 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
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.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Group A
Group B
Exclusion Criteria:
A potential subject who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:
Unprotected children with at least one sibling diagnosed with measles
Age matched children with detectable immunity to MeV
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.
Time frame: 36 months
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.
Time frame: 36 months
Plan to share: Undecided
Start is estimated for Jan 2026; primary completion for Apr 2029, 38 months later.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Nov 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.