INFLUENCE OF ALLERGEN AVOIDANCE AT HIGH-ALTITUDE ON SERUM MARKERS OF EOSINOPHIL ACTIVATION IN CHILDREN WITH ALLERGIC-ASTHMA

A cohort of 12 asthmatic children was followed over several months, du ring which they moved back and forth from an allergen-free to an aller gen-rich environment at high and low altitude, respectively. The child ren were treated with non-steroidal anti-asthmatic drugs as clinically needed. Histamine PC20-FEV(1) was unaltered during the study period, whereas serum levels of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and eosinoph il protein X (EPX) showed significant changes when the children were e xposed to the offending allergens. The total IgE significantly increas ed during exposure. The serum levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO) as well as of chemotactic factors for both neutrophils and eosinophils were un altered during allergen exposure. We conclude that the serum markers o f eosinophil activity ECP and EPX are sensitive indices of allergen ex posure in asthmatic atopic children.