title: [Measurement of serum eosinophil cationic protein levels in bronchial asthma].
abstract: We investigated the possibility of a relationship between the serum levels of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and the clinical parameters in asthma. A specific question was whether or not serum ECP changes with a circadian rhythm. Eighty nine children with bronchial asthma and sixteen normal, non-atopic subjects were studied. Serum ECP, eosinophil counts (Eo) and pulmonary functions were measured 4 or 5 times a day. ECP was quantitated by a specific radioimmunoassay. Serum ECP and Eo were significantly higher in the patients with bronchial asthma than in non-atopic subjects. Serum ECP levels were higher during asthma attacks and at 24 hours after attacks than those in stable conditions (free of attacks for more than 7 days). Although no circadian rhythm was observed in ECP changes, the patients with bronchial asthma showed a significantly greater variation of serum ECP levels than the non-atopic subjects. There was no significant correlation between serum ECP levels and 2- or 8-week attack score before the ECP measurement. These results suggest that serum ECP increases in bronchial asthma, especially in its acute exacerbation phase, and may reflect eosinophil activation in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Mie National Hospital.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujisawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Komada
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uchida
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Haibara
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D004804:Eosinophils; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D012260:Ribonucleases
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D012260:Ribonucleases