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Published on: April 21, 2019
[Eosinophil cationic protein in serum of children with food allergy]
Elzbieta Maciorkowska1, Maciej Kaczmarski
1III Klinika Chorób Dzieci, Akademii Medycznej w Białymstoku.
Insights
Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels in serum do not reliably indicate the severity of stomach lining changes in children with food allergies, even with infections. Further research is needed for accurate diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
- Gastroenterology
- Clinical Pathology
Context:
- Food allergy is a growing concern in children.
- Gastrointestinal infections like H. pylori and Giardia can complicate allergic conditions.
- Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) is a marker for allergic inflammation.
Purpose:
- To investigate the relationship between serum ECP levels and gastric mucosal histopathology in children with food allergy.
- To assess the influence of co-existing H. pylori or Giardia lamblia infections on this relationship.
- To evaluate the correlation with specific cytokine levels (IL-4, IL-5, IL-8) in gastric biopsies.
Summary:
- Serum ECP concentration was measured in children with food allergy, with and without gastrointestinal infections.
- ECP levels were correlated with histopathological findings in gastric mucosa and cytokine profiles (IL-4, IL-5, IL-8).
- Results indicate that serum ECP alone is not a definitive marker for the severity of gastric mucosal pathology in these children.
Impact:
- Highlights the limitations of using serum ECP as a sole indicator of allergic gastrointestinal disease severity.
- Suggests the need for more comprehensive diagnostic approaches in pediatric food allergy management.
- Informs clinical practice regarding the interpretation of ECP levels in complex pediatric cases.
Abstract:
The evaluation of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) concentration--one of late allergy reaction markers was performed in serum of children with food allergy and children with food allergy and H. pylori or Giardia lamblia infection of the gastrointestinal tract. The ECP values were referred to the characteristics of histopathological changes in gastric mucosa and to the values of cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-8) determined in biopsy specimens of gastric mucosa from these patients. The studies indicate that the exclusive evaluation of ECP concentration in serum does not reflect unequivocally the severity of pathological changes of gastric mucosa in children with food allergy.
