title: Analyzing serum eosinophil cationic protein in the clinical assessment of chronic rhinosinusitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) is a major granule-derived protein with cytotoxic activity found in eosinophils and has been known as a useful marker of allergic inflammation. In this study, we assessed the clinical significance of ECP in chronic inflammation of the nasal mucosa by evaluating the relationship between eosinophil activity and serum ECP concentration in a cohort of subjects with or without chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and allergic rhinitis (AR).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 492 subjects and analyzed eosinophil percentage in nasal smears, serum eosinophil counts, serum ECP concentrations, symptom scores, CT scores, the size of nasal polyp, and recurrence of CRS at follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Elevated serum ECP concentration was closely related with higher eosinophil expression in all subject's nasal smears and sera. CRS subjects without AR had a higher percentage of immune cells that were eosinophils compared with control subjects and it was similar to subjects' with AR only or with both CRS and AR. CRS subjects without AR also had significantly higher serum ECP concentrations and eosinophil counts compared with control subjects. Additionally, serum ECP concentration was significantly correlated with CT scores, symptom scores, polyp size, and recurrence rate in CRS subjects without AR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum ECP concentration can be used as a marker of local and systemic eosinophil expression. We conjecture that although serum ECP elevation may not be specific in AR, analysis of serum ECP concentration could be particularly useful in estimating the progression and prognosis of CRS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Chung-Ang University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung Soo
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ho-Ryun
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Won
authors.forename: Chong Yoon
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Joon Hyeong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Jae Heon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyu Eun
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyun Sang
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Hyun Jik
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D047150:Eosinophil Cationic Protein / Q000097:blood*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000097:blood*; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000235:genetics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D047150:Eosinophil Cationic Protein