title: Predictive capabilities of serum eosinophil cationic protein, percentage of eosinophils and total immunoglobulin E in allergic rhinitis without bronchial asthma.
abstract: This study identified cut-off values for allergy markers for use in the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis in the absence of other allergic diseases. Total immunoglobulin E (IgE), eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and the numbers of eosinophils were measured in serum samples from 442 patients  with typical symptoms of allergic rhinitis. A definite diagnosis was made on the basis of the presence of specific IgE levels. Cut-off values with a maximal discrimination to diagnose allergic rhinitis were found to be 98.7 IU/ml, 24.7 μg/ml and 4.0% for total IgE, ECP and eosinophils,  respectively. Sensitivity, specificity and odds ratio for these values were 75.2%, 69.7% and 6.93, respectively, for total IgE, 55.7%, 74.4% and 3.70 for ECP, and 57.5%, 72.0% and 3.47 for eosinophils. A composite score representing positive results for all three markers had a positive predictive  value of 85.3%, with an odds ratio of 8.55. It was concluded that total serum IgE, ECP and eosinophil percentage are strong predictors of allergic rhinitis and the determination of cut-off values for these markers can aid in the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis in the clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Changwon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Y G
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Dhong
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D003710:Demography; D047150:Eosinophil Cationic Protein / Q000097:blood; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D047150:Eosinophil Cationic Protein