[Analysis of eosinophilic cationic protein levels in infants and children with wheezy bronchitis]

Wheezy bronchitis can be the first sign of bronchial asthma thus wheezy bronchitis is under special supervision and its etiologic factors are especially analyzed among infants and young children. Due to diagnostic difficulties in this age group allergic inflammation markers are taken into consideration in aspect of recurrent bronchitis prevention. Such marker is eosinophillic cationic protein (ECP). ECP is released from eosinophilles during the late phase of allergic reaction. The aim of the study was to assess ECP concentrations among infants and young children with wheezy bronchitis.

Ninety-four patients with wheezy bronchitis between 1 month and 36 months old were included into the study (47 with the first episode and 47 with at least third episode). Forty-three patients hospitalized due to other causes, from the same age group (these patients haven't already had any wheezy bronchitis) were included into the control group. Among all patients concentrations of ECP were evaluated (among patients from the study group in the acute phase of the disease) by fluoroimmunoenzymatic method (FEIA) with the use of UniCAP 100 set (Pharmacia & Upjohn Diagnostics AB).

Statistically significant differences of ECP concentrations in blood plasma during wheezy bronchitis among infants and young children in correlation to the control group and higher concentrations were observed among patients with wheezy bronchitis. No statistically significant differences were observed in aspect of ECP concentrations between patients with the first episode and patients with recurrent wheezing. No influence of family history of allergy nor symptoms of allergy were observed whereas higher concentrations of ECP were observed among patients with higher level of CRP CONCLUSION: ECP isn't a good marker of prediction of reccurrent wheezing