Assessment of Eosinophils and Eosinophil Cationic Protein in Induced Sputum in Childhood Asthma.
- Author:
Woo Kyung KIM
1
;
Hae Ran LEE
;
Hae Sun YOON
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Induced sputum;
Eosinophil;
Eosinophil cationic protein
- MeSH:
Adolescent;
Asthma*;
Cell Count;
Child;
Eosinophil Cationic Protein*;
Eosinophils*;
Humans;
Hypersensitivity;
Inflammation;
Peak Expiratory Flow Rate;
Sputum*
- From:Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease
2002;12(1):9-17
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Airway inflammation is a characteristic feature of asthma. Sputum analysis can be used as a non-invasive tool to assess severity of the airway inflammation. This study was performed to compare relationships between sputum eosinophils to other parameters of airway inflammation and to evaluate the clinical utility of sputum eosinophils and ECP in childhood asthma. METHODS: Twenty one ashtmatic children and age matched control subjects without history of allergy were enrolled in this study. Their age was from 21 months to 15 years old. The study was performed from January to April of 2001. Ultrasonically nebulized hypertonic saline was used to induce sputum from children. The children were pre-treated with bronchodilator and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was monitored thought-out the procedure. Sample were analysed for total cell count, differential cell count and for concentrations of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP). RESULTS: Asthmatic subjects had a significantly higher proportion of blood eosinophils than the control subjects (279.8+/-187.7/mm3 and 26.5+/-18.5/mm3, P<0.01). Correspondingly, percentages of eosinophil and concentration of ECP were 5.10+/-8.79% and 99.85+/-70.10 microL/L in asthmatic and 0.20+/-0.42% and 1.02+/-2.54 microL/L in control subjects (P<0.01 and P<0.01). Serum eosinophils have no correlation with sputum eosinophils or sputum ECP. There was no correlation between sputum eosinophils and ECP either. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the proportion of eosinophils and the level of ECP in induced sputum may be sensitive and accurate means of assessing the airway inflammation in childhood asthma, and their relationships with serum eosinophils or serum ECP are to be studied further.
