J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  1997 Dec;38(12):2114-2119.

Comparative study of Eosinophil and Eosinophil Cationic Protein (ECP) of Tears and Sera in Children with Allergic Conjunctivitis

• Lee SB
• Shin JC
• Kim DS
• Oh JW

Abstract

The objective of this study is to measure eosinophil count and Eosinophil Cationic Protein (ECP) levels of tears and sera in patients with acute allergic conjunctivitis and normal subjects and to assess the correlation of this mediator with allergic conjuctivitis and the clinical usefulness. Seventeen subjects were selected on the basis of clinical manifestation, history, skin prick test, total IgE. Serum IgE and eosinophil count were increased in 10patients, and eosinophilia in conjunctival epithelium were present in 11subjects. ECP in tears were increased in patients significantly (12.0+/-8.0 vs 3.9+/-3.8ng/ml,p=0.01), but not in serum (52.5+/-43.1 vs 28.3+/-25.9ng/ml). There was significant relationship beween serum and tear eosinophil count(p=0.004,r=0.66). But there was no significant correlation between eosinophil count and ECP in serum (p>0.05m r=0.19), and no significant correlation between eosinophil count of conjectival epithelium and tears ECP (p=0.043, r=0.05). In conclusion, ECP in tears may be very important role in allergic conjunctivitis and is more reliable indicatior of diagnosis clinically rather than eosinophil count in tear and conjunctival epithelium.

Keyword

Allergic conjunctivitis; Eosinophil; Eosinophil Cationic Protein (ECP)

MeSH Terms

Child*
Conjunctivitis, Allergic*
Diagnosis
Eosinophil Cationic Protein*
Eosinophilia
Eosinophils*
Epithelium
Humans
Immunoglobulin E
Skin
Eosinophil Cationic Protein
Immunoglobulin E