J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol.  1998 Sep;18(3):466-472.

Serum eosinophil cationic protein in patient with bronchial asthma ; comparison with other markers of disease activity

• Yoo JH
• Choi JS
• Ahn CH
• Lee BH
• Na MJ
• Kim JY
• Park IW
• Choi BW
• Hue SH

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Serum eosinophil cationic protein(ECP) level has been proposed as a indirect marker of eosinophilic inflammation of the airway in bronchial asthma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate serum ECP against indirect clinical markers of disease, we compared bronchial obstruction, bronchial hyperresponsiveness and peripheral blood eosinophil counts, total IgE with serum ECP levels in patients with bronchial asthma and normal controls. METHOD: Fourty-two patients with bronchial asthma and twenty-six normal controls were enrolled. Measurement were made by spirometry, inhalation challenge with methacholine, peripheral blood eosinophil counts, total IgE and FEIA(fluoroenzymatic immunoassay) of serum ECP RESULT: Serum ECP levels were significantly higher in asthmatic patients than normal controls(p<0.0,5). Serum ECP levels were correlated with peripheral blood eosinophil counts(p<0.01, r=0.544) and bronchial hyperresponsiveness(PC,)(p<0.01, r=-0.456) in patients with bronchial asthma. Serum ECP levels were correlated with degree of bronchial obstruction(FEV, % to predicted value, FEV1/FVC%) in total subjects, but not in asthmatic patients.
CONCLUSION
Serum ECP level may be used as indicator of disease activity in bronchial asthma and be helpful in differentiation between normal person and asthmatic patients on simple serological method. Further studies on the changes of serum ECP levels according to disease course and therapeutic responses are needed.

Keyword

Eosinophil cationic protein; bronchial hyperresponsiveness; bronchial obstruction; bronchial asthma

MeSH Terms

Asthma*
Biomarkers
Eosinophil Cationic Protein*
Eosinophils
Humans
Immunoglobulin E
Inflammation
Inhalation
Methacholine Chloride
Spirometry
Eosinophil Cationic Protein
Immunoglobulin E
Methacholine Chloride