title: Urinary eosinophil protein X in relation to disease activity in childhood asthma.
abstract: The clinical use of urinary eosinophil protein X (U-EPX) measurements in monitoring inflammation in childhood asthma was investigated. U-EPX and pulmonary function were assessed in 80 children with bronchial asthma and 24 healthy, age-matched controls. In addition, 14 patients with asthma were re-examined after 1-2 months. U-EPX levels were increased in children with asthma compared with controls (median 68.4 vs 35.3 micrograms/mmol creatinine; P < 0.0001). In addition, U-EPX levels were higher in symptomatic than in asymptomatic patients (median 123.5 vs 48.9 micrograms/mmol creatinine; P < 0.0001) independent of treatment modalities (i.e., inhaled steroids or disodium cromoglycate) or atopy (median 65.1 vs 86.0 micrograms/mmol creatinine). Furthermore, U-EPX levels were significantly correlated with pulmonary function. During the follow-up period, changes in U-EPX values were significantly related to changes in pulmonary function. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that eosinophil activation can be measured in urine in childhood asthma. Concentrations of U-EPX are related to disease activity and pulmonary function, as shown in both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, but are independent of atopy and treatment modalities. Measurement of U-EPX may be useful in assessing the inflammatory process and therefore in the management of childhood asthma.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy and Pulmonology, University Children's Hospital, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lugosi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Halmerbauer
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Frischer
authors.forename: D Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Koller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000652:urine*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D047208:Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000175:diagnosis; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008448:Maximal Expiratory Flow Rate; D008449:Maximal Expiratory Flow-Volume Curves; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D012115:Residual Volume; D012260:Ribonucleases; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D047208:Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin; D012260:Ribonucleases