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Published on: August 7, 2017
Tidal flow volume loops and inflammatory indicators in small children
K H Carlsen1, K C Carlson, R Halvorsen
1Voksentoppen Centre for Asthma and Allergy, Oslo, Norway.
Insights
Children with recurrent bronchopulmonary obstruction show higher serum eosinophilic cationic protein (sECP) levels. sECP levels correlate with airway obstruction reversibility, suggesting its role in pediatric airway inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Allergy and Immunology
- Biomarkers in Respiratory Disease
Background:
- Bronchopulmonary obstruction is a common respiratory issue in young children.
- Identifying reliable biomarkers for airway inflammation is crucial for diagnosis and management.
- Eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) is a marker of eosinophil activation and airway inflammation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serum eosinophilic cationic protein (sECP) and serum myeloperoxidase (sMPO) levels in children with recurrent bronchopulmonary obstruction.
- To assess the correlation between these biomarkers and airway obstruction parameters, including reversibility to salbutamol.
Main Methods:
- Measured sECP, sMPO, and tidal flow-volume loops in 41 children with bronchopulmonary obstruction and 38 controls (all under 2 years).
- Assessed bronchodilator reversibility using salbutamol in a subset of participants.
- Analyzed baseline Tpef/Te ratio and biomarker levels.
Main Results:
- Children with bronchopulmonary obstruction had a significantly lower baseline Tpef/Te ratio (0.21 vs 0.33).
- sECP levels were significantly higher in cases (21.9 µg/l vs 14.0 µg/l).
- sECP correlated significantly with the percentage change in Tpef/Te after salbutamol (r=0.70); sMPO showed no significant difference.
Conclusions:
- Elevated sECP is associated with bronchopulmonary obstruction in young children.
- sECP may serve as a useful biomarker for assessing airway inflammation and bronchodilator response in this population.
- sMPO is not a differentiating biomarker in this context.
Abstract:
Serum eosinophilic cationic protein (sECP) serum myeloperoxidase (sMPO) and tidal flow volume loops were measured in 41 awake children with at least two episodes of bronchopulmonary obstruction, at least 3 weeks after an acute episode, and in 38 control children, all below 2 years of age. Reversibility to salbutamol was assessed in 26 cases and 24 controls. The baseline ratio of time to peak flow to total expiratory time (Tpef/Te) was significantly lower in cases (0.21) than in controls (0.33). sECP was significantly higher in cases (21.9 micrograms/l) than in controls (14.0 micrograms/l), and correlated significantly (r = 0.70) with the percentage change in Tpef/Te from before to after salbutamol. sMPO did not differ significantly between the two groups.
