title: [Serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in patients with perennial rhinitis and atopic dermatitis, allergic to house dust mites].
abstract: Eosinophil Cationic Protein (ECP) is released from activated eosinophils during the inflammation process.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  of the study was to evaluate levels of ECP in serum of patients with perennial rhinitis (with and without asthma) and atopic dermatitis allergic to Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. Further it was designed to compare ECP levels in patients treated with allergen-specific immunotherapy (IT) and in patients treated symptomatically.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group included 94 patients allergic to house dust mite: 42 patients with perennial rhinitis not treated with IT, 24 patients with perennial rhinitis and/or asthma treated with IT and 28 patients with atopic dermatitis. In the control group were 21 healthy volunteers. In the group treated with IT questionare of efficacy and safety was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum level of ECP was measured using immunofluorometric assay. In the group with perennial rhinitis treated with IT mean level of ECP was 6,5 ug/l, whereas in the group not treated with IT--15,78 microg/l (p=<0.05). In patients with atopic dermatitis ECP level was the highest--23,04 microg/l +/- 4,98 and was significantly different than in the group of healthy volunteers-- 7,2 microg/l +/- 1,1 (p=0,0048).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum ECP concentration may be prognostic factor in specific immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Akademia Medyczna w Gdańsku, Klinika Alergologii. damik@amg.gda.pl
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Damps-Konstańska
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gruchała-Niedoszytko
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wilkowska
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Glén
authors.forename: Zdzisław
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Konstański
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jassem
authors.forename: Jan Marek
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Słomiński
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D040002:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus / Q000276:immunology*; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods; D047150:Eosinophil Cationic Protein / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D015200:Fluoroimmunoassay; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D047150:Eosinophil Cationic Protein