SERUM EOSINOPHIL CATIONIC PROTEIN (ECP) LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH SEASONAL ALLERGIC RHINITIS AND ALLERGIC-ASTHMA

We studied serum ECP levels in 21 seasonal allergic patients (16 patie nts with rhinitis; 5 with rhinits and asthma) diagnosed by history ski n tests, and PAST Seventeen healthy subjects were selected as a contro l group. None of the patients had received medications. Total IgE leve ls were also measured and correlated with ECP levels. Mean IgE level w as found to be higher in patients than controls (p < 0.05). Patients w ith asthma and rhinitis had higher IgE values than those with rhinitis alone (p < 0.05). Serum ECP levels in the patient group were signific antly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). No statistica lly significant difference was found between ECP levels in patients wi th rhinitis and rhinitis plus asthma groups, although mean ECP was hig her level in the later group. Total IgE and ECP levels were correlated positively in the patients (r = 0.630, p < 0.05). We conclude that th e extent of allergic inflammation in mucosal surfaces such as allergic rhinitis plus asthma, might influence serum ECP levels.