Serum Eosinophil Cationic Protein Is a Useful Marker for Assessing the Efficacy of Inhaled Corticosteroid Therapy in Children with Bronchial Asthma

Abstract

Bronchial asthma (BA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of airways for which the effective therapies include inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and short-acting β 2-adrenoreceptor agonist (SABA). Serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) has been reported to reflect the degree of airway inflammation. We, therefore, explored the implication of serum ECP in assessing the efficacy of ICS therapy in BA children. Our prospective randomized control study enrolled 126 BA children and 78 healthy children (the control group). The BA patients were randomly assigned as two groups; 59 children were treated with ICS, twice a day, for three months and 67 patients received SABA inhalation only if necessary. After the 3-month therapy, the serum levels of ECP, endothelin-1, and nitric oxide and the eosinophil percentage (EOS%) in induced sputum were significantly lower in the ICS group, compared with the SABA group, but were still higher than the control group (all P < 0.05). The forced expiratory volume (FEV1%pred) and forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) were improved to the levels of the control group after therapy. Pearson correlation analysis presented that higher serum ECP levels were associated with higher EOS% in serum and with lower pulmonary function indices (FEVl%pred and FEV1/FVC). Importantly, the ICS group exhibited higher quality of life scores and lower symptom scores compared with the SABA group (all P < 0.05). ROC results revealed the diagnostic efficiency of serum ECP levels on the efficacy of ICS. In conclusion, measuring serum ECP levels is helpful for assessing the efficacy of ICS therapy in BA children.

The outcome of posterior nasal nerve/vidian nerve neurectomy during FESS on patients of nasal polyposis associated with bronchial asthma

“…Additionally, some researches have shown that there were various roles of ECP from eosinophils including lowering mucous clearance, altering the composition of airway fluid, causing damage to the exfoliation of the airway epithelium leading to exposure of sensory nerve endings, encouraging pore formation, and raising mucosal permeability, which exacerbates BA and impairment of lung function [16].…”

Dynamic Urinary Proteome Changes in Ovalbumin-Induced Asthma Mouse Model Using Data-Independent Acquisition Proteomics

“… 32 Serum ECP level is helpful in assessing the efficacy of inhaled corticosteroids therapy in bronchial asthma. 33 Increased serum haptoglobin (HP) level is seen in patients with asthma, asthma exacerbation and 24 hours after allergen challenge in late responders. 34 As part of its tissue repair function, HP can induce differentiation of fibroblast progenitor cells into lung fibroblasts in airway remodeling in patients with asthma.…”

Serum Eosinophilic Cationic Protein Is a Reliable Biomarker for Childhood Asthma

“…The presence of eosinophil degranulation products has been associated with airway inflammation in the lower respiratory tract. The most studied granule protein, ECP, is associated with recurrent wheezing both in adult and childhood asthma, in eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis, aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease, and allergic rhinitis [8][9][10][11][12]. Elevated serum concentrations of ECP reflect eosinophilic activity in the lungs and have been found to correlate with severity of asthma and associated with allergen sensitization in patients with asthma [13][14][15].…”