SERUM EOSINOPHIL CATIONIC PROTEIN (ECP) AS A MARKER OF DISEASE-ACTIVITY AND TREATMENT EFFICACY IN SEASONAL ASTHMA

This study was carried out to determine whether serum eosinophil catio nic protein (ECP) represents a sensitive marker for disease activity i n atopic asthmatic patients during the pollen season. The study, in do uble-blind fashion, was performed between February and June 1994. Two groups of 10 seasonal asthmatic patients randomly received two differe nt treatments. The first group was treated with inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) 500 mu g bid; the second received a matched placeb o (P). At the beginning and every month, blood samples for determinati on of ECP and eosinophil count were collected and lung function (FEV(1 )) and methacholine responsiveness (PD20) were performed. Subjects rec orded daily symptoms of asthma, salbutamol consumption, and peak expir atory flow (PEF) values. In the P group, all indices, except FEV(1), s howed significant changes during the pollen season (P < 0.001). In the BDP group, significant changes were detected for symptom score (P < 0 .01), salbutamol consumption (P < 0.01), and eosinophil number (P < 0. 05). Between the two groups, significant differences for symptom score (P < 0.001), salbutamol consumption (P < 0.001), ECP levels (P < 0.05 ), eosinophil count (P < 0.02), PD20 methacholine (P < 0.02), and PEF values (P < 0.01) were detected. Changes in serum ECP significantly co rrelated with changes in other parameters (P < 0.001), except FEV(1). Our results provide evidence that serum ECP is a sensitive marker for monitoring of the disease activity in seasonal asthma. Furthermore, it may offer a useful tool for estimating treatment efficacy.