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Elevated plasma eotaxin levels in patients with acute asthma
C M Lilly1, P G Woodruff, C A Camargo
1Combined Program in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
|October 16, 1999
Summary
Plasma eotaxin levels are elevated in patients with acute asthma, indicating its potential role in the condition. Lower eotaxin levels correlate with a better response to asthma treatment.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Respiratory Medicine
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Eotaxin's role in eosinophil chemotaxis and activation is known.
- Eosinophils are associated with asthma, suggesting increased eotaxin in exacerbations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate elevated plasma eotaxin levels in acute asthma patients.
- To correlate eotaxin levels with asthma disease activity and treatment response.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study comparing plasma eotaxin levels.
- Included 46 patients with acute asthma and 133 with stable asthma.
Main Results:
- Plasma eotaxin levels were significantly higher in acute asthma patients (520 pg/mL) compared to stable asthma patients (350 pg/mL).
- Patients responding to treatment showed lower eotaxin levels (410 pg/mL) than non-responders (660 pg/mL).
Conclusions:
- Eotaxin may be mechanistically involved in acute asthma.
- Eotaxin could serve as a biomarker for the CCR3 receptor ligand system in asthma.
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