INFLAMMATORY MARKERS IN CHILDHOOD ASTHMA

The importance of airway inflammation in the pathogenesis of asthma is clearly established. Studies in adults as well as in children have le d to the concept that asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease. Airway inflammation is found even in mild asthma. Bronchoconstriction and hy per-reactivity appear to be secondary to the release of inflammatory m ediators. The changed view of the pathogenesis of asthma and current e mphasis on anti-inflammatory treatment have raised a need for markers that reflect the inflammatory status in the airways, This is of specia l importance in paediatric practice because lung function tests are le ss easily performed in young children, and it is preferable to keep st eroid doses as low as possible, The eosinophil granulocyte has a multi tude of proinflammatory functions and plays a key role in the asthmati c inflammation. It secretes toxic proteins and produces cytokines, whi ch have important roles in airway inflammation, Use of eosinophil gran ule proteins to monitor inflammation is now finding its place, Measure ment of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) seems to be a valuable compl ement to the recording of lung function, For paediatric use, measureme nt of urinary eosinophil protein X (EPX) is promising because it does not require blood sampling.