title: Serum level of eosinophil cationic protein in patients with chronic cough: relationship to blood eosinophils and airway hyperresponsiveness.
abstract: We measured the serum level of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), determined the blood eosinophil count, and assessed pulmonary function by spirometry and airway responsiveness to methacholine in 80 patients with a cough lasting longer than 3 weeks without an obvious cause. The serum level of ECP was above the cutoff value of 15.7 ng/mL (mean + 2 SD in 105 healthy control adults) in 30 (37.5%) of 80 patients (high-serum-ECP group). The blood eosinophil count was significantly higher in the high-serum-ECP group than in the normal-serum-ECP group (p < 0.01). The cumulative dose of methacholine causing a 35% decrease in respiratory conductance (PD35Grs) was significantly lower in the high-serum-ECP group than in the normal-serum-ECP group (p < 0.001). The serum concentration of ECP was correlated with the blood eosinophil count and the PD35Grs (r = 0.59, p < 0.001 and r = -0.48, p < 0.001, respectively). These findings suggest a possible role for serum level of ECP in management of patients with chronic cough.
authors.affiliation: The First Department of Internal Medicine, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishikawa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Miyazawa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Numata
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Komatsu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rin
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okubo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D016085:Bronchoconstrictor Agents; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003371:Cough / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D008875:Middle Aged; D012260:Ribonucleases; D013147:Spirometry
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D016085:Bronchoconstrictor Agents; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D012260:Ribonucleases