title: Inflammation markers and symptom activity in children with bronchial asthma. Influence of atopy and eczema.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) has been reported to reflect the eosinophil inflammatory activity in asthma. However, the relative impact of asthma symptoms and atopic eczema upon serum (s)-ECP in asthmatic children has not been established.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine s-ECP levels and s-myeloperoxidase (MPO) in relation to asthma symptoms and atopic eczema in asthmatic children.
  
  
  METHODS
  S-ECP and s-MPO were assessed in relation to symptom activity, lung function, exercise-induced bronchoconstriction and bronchial responsiveness in 101 children; median age 9 years, range 1-16 years; with moderate to severe asthma, admitted to Voksentoppen Center.
  
  
  RESULTS
  S-ECP was significantly higher in children with persistent compared to episodic or no asthma symptoms in the past four weeks. S-ECP was also higher in children with atopic compared to non-atopic asthma, as well as in those with active compared to past history or no history of atopic eczema. S-MPO was higher in children with persistent asthma symptoms, but did not differ in relation to atopy or eczema state. Persistent asthma symptoms had the greatest impact upon s-ECP levels, followed by atopy and active eczema.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  S-ECP may be used in assessing symptom activity in asthmatic children, but with the realisation that active eczema and the presence of atopy may also influence levels.
authors.affiliation: Voksentoppen Center of Asthma, Allergy and Chronic Lung Diseases in Children, Oslo, Norway. kaic@ulrik.uio.no
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Carlsen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Halvorsen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pettersen
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Carlsen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001250:Asthma, Exercise-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002415:Cats; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004485:Eczema / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D005260:Female; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000097:blood*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000379:methods; D011864:Radioimmunosorbent Test; D012260:Ribonucleases; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001798:Blood Proteins; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D009195:Peroxidase; D012260:Ribonucleases