Serum Eosinophil Cationic Protein (ECP) in Patients with Allergic Rhinitis

Do, Hong Lim; Chang, You Chul; Jung, Hwan Woo; Kim, Ki Bum; Hwang, Chan Seong; Kim, Hoon; Cha, Young Joo

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Eosinophil has been reported to play important roles in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis as well as in bronchial asthma. This study was performed to evaluate serum ECP levels and draw a correlation with the blood eosinophil, serum total IgE in patients with allergic rhinitis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The ECP level in serum, blood eosinophil counts, serum total IgE, and symptom scores were measured in 32 patients with allergic rhinitis, 24 patients with non-allergic rhinitis and 20 normal control subjects.
RESULTS
The serum ECP concentration was significantly higher in the allergic rhinitis group than in the non-allergic rhinitis and normal control group (p<0.001). The serum ECP concentration was significantly correlated with the peripheral blood eosinophil counts in the allergic rhinitis group (r=0.532, p<0.004) and in the total patients & normal contol (r=0.676, p<0.001). Concentration of the serum ECP was significantly higher in patients with eosinophilia than in those with normal value of the eosiophils (p<0.001). The serum ECP concentration was not correlated with the total serum IgE in allergic rhinitis group. The total symptom scores in patients with allergic rhinitis was not correlated with serum ECP concentrations.
CONCLUSION
The results suggest that the level of serum ECP is correlated with the increased activity of eosinophils.