Serum eosinophil cationic protein as a predictor of disease activity in acute and chronic asthma.
BACKGROUND
Eosinophils may contribute to airway hyper responsiveness in asthma through the effects of eosinophil derived granular proteins in the bronchial epithelium. Increased concentration of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) has been reported in patients with acute and chronic asthma.


OBJECTIVE
To examine if ECP can serve as a marker of disease activity in acute and chronic asthma patients.


METHODS
Prospective case control study.


METHODS
Sixteen non smoking asthmatics in exacerbation (group 1); twenty two in relatively stable state (group 2); and sixteen normal control subjects (group 3) were recruited into the study.


METHODS
Casuality and outpatients departments, Mubarak hospital, Kuwait between August 1997 and July 1998.


METHODS
The mean serum ECP, blood eosinophil count and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR).


RESULTS
There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in blood eosinophil count (p < 0.01) and in PEFR (p < 0.0001). At week four, the mean ECP and blood eosinophil count fell as a result of therapy in group 1. The difference in PEFR values between week 0 and 4 in group 1 reached statistical significance (p < 0.05). In group 2 patients, the mean serum ECP, blood eosinophil count and PFER values between week 0 and 4 did not show any significant difference. A correlation was observed between ECP and PEFR in group 1 (p < 0.05) and between ECP and eosinophil count in group 2 (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Serum ECP has the potential to serve as a marker for predicting and monitoring the clinical course of asthma. Further studies are required to verify these baseline findings in our environment.
Onadeko
B O
BO
Department of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait.
Khadadah
M E
ME
Mustafa
H T
HT
Ezeamuzie
C I
CI
Marouf
R
R
Khamis
A
A
Sugathan
T N
TN
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D004804:Eosinophils; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012260:Ribonucleases
D015415:Biomarkers; D001798:Blood Proteins; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D012260:Ribonucleases