title: The effect of corticosteroid therapy on blood eosinophils and eosinophilic cationic protein in patients with acute and chronic asthma.
abstract: There is evidence that eosinophils are involved in inflammation in asthma, a correlation having been observed between blood eosinophil (B-EOS) count and pulmonary function. It has been suggested that eosinophils, and its product, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), can serve as markers of disease activity. This paper examines this hypothesis. B-EOS count, serum ECP level, and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were estimated in two groups of asthmatics and controls at three visits in 4 weeks. The mean B-EOS count in acute and stable asthmatic groups was higher than in controls at presentation; the difference was statistically significant (p<0.02). Similarly, mean ECP was higher in the two groups than in controls, but with no statistically significant difference. The B-EOS count and serum ECP level within the groups fell between week 0 and week 4 because of treatment. There was positive correlation between ECP and PEF and also between B-EOS and ECP and PEF. The findings reveal that blood eosinophils reflect some degree of activity in asthmatic patients in the acute and chronic state.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Mubarak Hospital, Kuwait.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marouf
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Khadadah
authors.forename: B O
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Onadeko
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Mustafa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khamis
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Ezeamuzie
authors.forename: T N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Sugathan
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D004804:Eosinophils; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D012260:Ribonucleases
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D001798:Blood Proteins; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D012260:Ribonucleases