EOSINOPHIL CATIONIC PROTEIN IN NASAL SECRETION AND IN SERUM AND MYELOPEROXIDASE IN SERUM IN RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS BRONCHIOLITIS - RELATION TO ASTHMA AND ATOPY

Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in nasal secretions was determined i n 34 infants with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis duri ng the acute infection stage and one and six months later, ECP in seru m was determined in 19 of these children at the same time. Myeloperoxi dase (MPO) was determined in the same 19 children at the acute infecti on stage and after one month. All children were followed prospectively for two years after the infection with regard to the development of b ronchial obstructive symptoms. Asthma, defined as three or more episod es of bronchial obstruction verified by a physician, developed in 18% of children and less severe obstructive symptoms in 29%. A screening t est for food IgE antibodies in serum was performed six months and a sk in prick test two years after the acute infection. Nasal ECP/albumin r atios after six months were significantly higher than during the acute RSV infection. MPO, but not ECP, levels in serum were significantly e levated at the time of acute infection compared with levels after one month. Nasal ECP/albumin ratios at the acute infection were compared t o a control group of 27 infants with non-RSV upper respiratory tract i nfections and did not differ. It was not possible to predict, either f rom ECP/albumin ratios in nasal secretion or from ECP and MPO in serum , which children would develop asthma, other bronchial obstructive sym ptoms or positive IgE tests.