title: Eosinophil activation in Wegener's granulomatosis: a harbinger of disease progression?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relation between eosinophil activation in tissue from patients with an active, limited form of Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) affecting the eye and subsequent systemic disease activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of ocular specimens obtained from 10 patients was performed. Sections were probed with antibodies to assess the presence of major basic protein (MBP) and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four of the 10 specimens demonstrated the presence of MBP and ECP. WG progressed to the complete form in two of these patients, who received no or inadequate treatment. The other two, treated with cyclophosphamide for one year, did not progress to the complete form of WG during observation after therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Activated eosinophils in sclera or conjunctiva of patients with ocular limited WG may predict progression to complete WG.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Service, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (MEEI), Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Pitipol
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Choopong
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Virender S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Sangwan
authors.forename: Panayotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zafirakis
authors.forename: Charalampos Livir
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Rallatos
authors.forename: Blanca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.forename: Stefanos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baltatzis
authors.forename: C Stephen
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Foster
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D047150:Eosinophil Cationic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D047093:Eosinophil Major Basic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012590:Sclera / Q000473:pathology; D014606:Uveitis, Anterior / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D047150:Eosinophil Cationic Protein; D047093:Eosinophil Major Basic Protein