Serum eosinophil cationic protein in active and quiescent ulcerative colitis

Inflammatory bowel disorders are characterized by an accumulation of eosino philic granulocytes, mast cells, lymphocytes and neutrophilic granulocytes in the intestinal mucosa. The aim of this study was to examine the concentr ation of eosinophilic granulocytes in the blood of patients during active u lcerative colitis in comparison with patients during remission and apparent ly healthy control subjects. Besides counting, the activity grade of eosino philic granulocytes has been studied by estimation of their degranulation p roduct eosinophil cationic protein. Subjects with active ulcerative colitis could be distinguished from patient s with quiescent ulcerative colitis by establishment of the eosinophil cati onic protein concentration, neutrophilic granulocyte count, erythrocyte sed imentation rate, C-reactive protein and albumin concentration. After two weeks of corticosteroid treatment, serum eosinophil cationic prot ein concentrations and eosinophil counts in blood were significantly decrea sed. A decrease in blood eosinophil count was accompanied by a decrease in eosinophil cationic protein concentrations in serum in most subjects with u lcerative colitis. After twelve weeks of corticosteroid administration, ser um albumin concentrations were significantly increased, whereas serum conce ntrations of C-reactive protein were significantly decreased. During treatment with corticosteroids, serum eosinophil cationic protein co ncentrations and blood eosinophil counts are appropriate laboratory markers to detect the effect of medication in the course of ulcerative colitis.