Update in allergy testing in childhood asthma: how do you know whether you are successfully controlling the patient's...

The levels of serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in asthmatic patients have been shown to be increased in acute and undertreated asthma as a result of inflammation. ECP is released during in vitro clotting of peripheral blood. The exposure of the atopic individual to an offending allergen stimulates the activation of the blood eosinophils and their release of ECP into serum. Serum ECP levels reflect avoidance of the allergen, and successful treatment of asthma inflammation with corticosteroids cause a reduction of the inflammation in the lung. When individual patients with asthma are followed, the level of serum ECP can be used (1) as an early indicator of the degree of inflammation, (2) for monitoring the efficacy of corticosteroid therapy, and (3) for possible noncompliance with treatment.