[Aqueous levels of eosinophil cationic protein and major basic protein in patients with retinal detachment associated...

We measured the aqueous levels of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and major basic protein (MBP) to investigate a possible relationship between cytotoxic eosinophil granule proteins and retinal detachment (RD) in patients with atopic dermatitis. While aqueous ECP was detected in only 1 of 15 cases of RD associated with atopic dermatitis, aqueous MBP was detected in 6 of 14 cases (42.9%). 11 cases of RD without atopic dermatitis were also studied, but neither ECP nor MBP was detected. Although the role of aqueous ECP and MBP was not elucidated, the results indicate that cytotoxic eosinophil granule proteins, especially MBP, are present in aqueous humor in certain cases of RD associated with atopic dermatitis.