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Serum ECP (serum + ecp)

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Medical Sciences	100%

Selected Abstracts

Serum eosinophil granule proteins predict asthma risk in allergic rhinitis

ALLERGY, Issue 5 2009
L. P. Nielsen
Background:, Allergic rhinitis is a common disease, in which some patients will deteriorate or develop asthma. It is important to characterize these patients, thereby offering the possibility for prevention. This study evaluated eosinophil parameters as potential indicators of deteriorating allergic airway disease. Methods:, The subjects of the study included all patients who suffered seasonal allergic rhinitis and had participated in a study 6 years earlier, in which blood eosinophils, serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) serum eosinophil peroxidase (EPO), nasal lavage ECP and nasal lavage EPO levels were measured. Patients in the present study were interviewed on occurrence of rhinitis symptoms during the last season, rhinitis outside season, asthma-like symptoms and asthma diagnosis, and were skin-prick tested for common aeroallergens. Eosinophil parameters from the study 6 years earlier were then tested for the ability to predict occurrence of new allergies, worsening of rhinitis and occurrence of asthma. Results:, Forty-four patients participated in the study. In four patients seasonal rhinitis symptoms had deteriorated, 10 had experienced perennial rhinitis symptoms, 14 reported asthma-like symptoms and seven had been diagnosed with asthma. Thirteen had developed additional sensitization. Patients developing asthma-like symptoms compared with patients with no such symptoms had significantly higher serum ECP (16.7 ,g/l vs 8.2 ,g/l; P , 0.01) and serum EPO (17.9 ,g/l vs 8.8 ,g/l; P , 0.05). Results were similar, considering patients diagnosed with asthma. Blood eosinophils and nasal lavage parameters were not related to development of asthma and asthma-like symptoms. No eosinophil parameter was related to deterioration of rhinitis or additional sensitization. Conclusion:, Serum ECP and EPO in patients with seasonal rhinitis demonstrated a high predictive ability for later development of asthma. [source]

Eosinophil cationic protein in infants with respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis: Predictive value for subsequent development of persistent wheezing

PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 6 2001
Massimo Pifferi MD
Abstract Infants with acute bronchiolitis during the first months of life are at increased risk of developing persistent wheezing and bronchial asthma later in life. The study of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) suggests that eosinophil-related inflammatory mechanisms may play a role in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis. The aim of our study was to verify whether serum ECP (s-ECP) measurements are useful in predicting the development of persistent wheezing in children affected by RSV bronchiolitis during a 5 years follow-up period. Forty-eight infants were enrolled prospectively (mean age: 153.5 days). All had a clinical and radiological diagnosis of acute bronchiolitis and confirmed RSV infection. Peripheral eosinophil counts, levels of s-ECP, and serum IgE concentrations were measured during bronchiolitis. Five years later the children were re-evaluated in regard to their respiratory symptoms (standardized questionnaires) and atopic status (specific IgE levels). We observed significantly higher s-ECP levels (P <,0.001) at enrollment in subjects who developed persistent wheezing compared to subjects who did not show late wheezing. Initial s-ECP values allowed significant and correct prediction of persistent wheezing (P <,0.001). The risk to develop respiratory symptoms was 9.73 higher for infants with s-ECP levels ,,8,,g/L than for those with s-ECP levels <8,,g/L (P <,0.0001). In conclusion, our study suggests that s-ECP levels in infants with bronchiolitis are useful in predicting the risk to develop wheezing in the subsequent 5 years. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2001; 31:419,424. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Bronchial hyper-responsiveness to hypertonic saline and blood eosinophilic markers in 8,13-year-old schoolchildren

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 8 2004
G. De Meer
Summary Background In adult asthma, bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR) to indirect stimuli reflects eosinophilic activation more closely than BHR to stimuli that directly cause smooth muscle contraction. Aim To assess the relationship between BHR to the indirect stimulus hypertonic saline (HS), blood eosinophil numbers, and serum eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) in children with and without current wheeze. Methods A cross-sectional survey among 8,13-year-old schoolchildren, using the International Study of Asthma and Allergic disease in Childhood questionnaire, bronchial challenge with HS, skin prick tests, serum IgE, blood eosinophil counts and ECP (in a subset). Based upon the presence of current wheeze (WHE) and BHR, we defined three case groups (WHE+BHR+, WHE,BHR+, WHE+BHR,) and the reference group (WHE,BHR,). By regression analyses, each case group was compared with the reference group for differences in atopic sensitization, blood eosinophil counts and serum ECP. Results Complete data were obtained for 470 children. BHR was present in 103 children (22%), 66 being asymptomatic and 37 symptomatic. Children of all three case groups were more often atopic. Sensitization to indoor allergens particularly occurred in children with BHR, irrespective of symptoms (P<0.05). Children with WHE+BHR+ had highest values for blood eosinophils and serum ECP (P<0.05). Children with WHE,BHR+ had less severe responsiveness. In atopic children with WHE,BHR+, serum ECP was higher than in children with WHE-BHR-(P<0.05). Conclusions BHR to HS is associated with blood markers of eosinophilic activation, particularly in atopic children. [source]