TIDAL FLOW-VOLUME LOOPS AND INFLAMMATORY INDICATORS IN SMALL CHILDREN

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 week s after an acute episode, and in 38 control children, all below 2 year s 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 control s (0.33). sECP was significantly higher in cases (21.9 mu g/l) than in controls (14.0 mu g/l), and correlated significantly (r= 0.70) with t he percentage change in Tpef/Te from before to after salbutamol. sMPO did not differ significantly between the two groups.