title: Eosinophil proteins as markers of inflammation in childhood asthma.
abstract: Anti-inflammatory inhaled and oral corticosteroid treatment for airway inflammation in the asthmatic pediatric population requires prudent evaluation of clinical efficacy. Possible concomitant negative long-term side effects of potent corticosteroids administered in larger dosages are of particular concern in treatment of asthmatic children. A correlation between elevated serum levels of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) released by activated eosinophils and the pathogenesis of asthmatic inflammation in children has recently been suggested. ECP may prove to be a clinically useful quantitative marker of the degree of lung inflammation as well as the efficacy of corticosteroid treatment in children who have asthma.
authors.affiliation: Adverse Reaction Clinic, Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D047208:Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D007249:Inflammation / Q000175:diagnosis; D012260:Ribonucleases
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D047208:Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin; D012260:Ribonucleases