Comparisons of Blood Eosinophil Count and Serum ECP between Acute Period and Clinical Remission in Children with Upper Respiratory Infection-induced Wheezing: The Effects of Atopy and Age on These Changes.
- Author:
Do Kyun KIM
1
;
Jinho YU
;
Young YOO
;
Young Yull KOH
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Eosinophil;
Infection;
Wheezing;
Atopy
- MeSH:
Child*;
Eosinophil Cationic Protein;
Eosinophils*;
Humans;
Respiratory Sounds*
- From:Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease
2005;15(2):106-116
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to compare blood eosinophilic inflammatory markers between the acute period and clinical remission in children with upper respiratory infection (URI) -induced wheezing, and to assess the effects of atopy and age on these changes. METHODS: In 77 children with URI-induced wheezing, blood eosinophil count and serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) were measured during the acute wheezing phase and clinical remission period. The data were analyzed in the subgroups divided by atopy and age, respectively. RESULTS: Blood eosinophil count was significantly lower during acute period (181.6/microliter, 67.3-490.0) than that during clinical remission period (261.8/microliter, 120.7-567.7, P=0.001), and this significant eosinopenic response was found in non-atopic children (n=36) [92.2 (41.3-206.0) /microliter vs 204.5 (106.6-392.2) /microliter, P< 0.001], but not in atopic children (n=41). A significantly higher level of serum ECP was observed during acute period (15.1 microgram/L, 7.2-31.6) than during clinical remission (13.0 microgram/L, 6.6-25.7, P=0.05), and this difference was significant only in atopic children[24.2 (15.3-38.1) microgram/L vs 16.2 (8.3-31.6) microgram/L, P< 0.001]. A significant fall in blood eosinophil count during acute period was found only in children < or=4 years (n=37), while a significant rise in serum ECP was detected only in children > 4 years (n=40). However, these differences a due to dissimilar distribution of atopy in the two age groups. CONCLUSION: Our results showed different eosinophil responses to infection in non-atopic and atopic children with URI-induced wheezing. It appears that the blunted eosinopenic response in atopic children may be associated with the predominant Th2-like response to infection.
