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The ECP/Eo count ratio in children with asthma

Iwona Stelmach1, Pawel Majak, Tomasz Grzelewski

  • 1Department of Pediatrics and Allergy, M. Curie Hospital, Zgierz, Poland. interna@wss.zgierz.pl

The Journal of Asthma : Official Journal of the Association for the Care of Asthma
|September 14, 2004
PubMed

Insights

The eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) to eosinophil count ratio (ECP/Eo ratio) better predicts asthma severity in children than individual markers. This ratio offers a more useful assessment of pediatric asthma.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Allergy and Immunology
  • Biomarker Discovery

Background:

  • Asthma severity assessment in children often relies on clinical symptoms and lung function tests.
  • Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and peripheral blood eosinophil counts are known inflammatory markers in asthma.
  • The predictive value of the ratio between serum ECP and peripheral blood eosinophil count (ECP/Eo ratio) for asthma severity is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether the ECP/Eo ratio is a superior correlate of asthma severity compared to ECP or eosinophil count alone in children.
  • To identify the most effective biomarkers for predicting moderate asthma in pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

  • One hundred twenty children with mild to moderate persistent asthma were studied.
  • Measurements included peripheral blood eosinophil count, serum ECP, sIL-2R, sICAM-1, spirometry, and histamine challenge tests.
  • Daily symptom scores were recorded, and logistic regression analysis was used to determine predictors of asthma severity.

Main Results:

  • Univariate analysis indicated that PC20H, ECP, ECP/Eo ratio, sIL-2R, and sICAM-1 were related to asthma severity.
  • Multivariate analysis identified PC20H and the ECP/Eo ratio as the best predictors of moderate asthma.
  • A higher ECP/Eo ratio significantly increased the risk of moderate asthma (OR = 1.84), while higher PC20H decreased the risk (OR = 0.656).

Conclusions:

  • The ECP/Eo ratio is a more sensitive and clinically useful marker for assessing asthma severity in children than ECP or peripheral blood eosinophil count alone.
  • The ECP/Eo ratio, alongside PC20H, provides valuable insights into the inflammatory status and severity of pediatric asthma.

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