Eosinophil granule proteins in serum and urine of patients with helminth infections and atopic dermatitis

Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EPX) a re cytotoxic molecules involved in helminth infections and allergic reactio ns. Hitherto most clinical chemical studies have been concerned with the an alysis of serum ECP in allergic diseases. The aim of this study was to exam ine whether serum as well as urine levels of these proteins are useful clin ical chemical parameters in helminthiases and allergic diseases such as ato pic dermatitis. Comparing these diseases under the same methodological cond itions, levels of ECP and EPX were generally higher in helminthiases than i n atopic dermatitis and non-helminth, non-allergic diseases. The highest le vels of both proteins occurred in tropical worm diseases, in particular hoo kworm disease and onchocerciasis. When comparing helminthiases with allergi c disorder, only hookworm disease (ECP and EPX) and onchocerciasis (EPX) ex hibited significantly higher eosinophil cationic protein serum levels than atopic dermatitis. In patients with schistosomiasis mansoni and egg loads o f > 1000-10 000 eggs/g stool (epg) EPX serum levels were significantly high er than in patients exhibiting loads < 1000 epg. Urinary analyses revealed only EPX to be present in measurable amounts. Levels of this protein were m uch higher in urine of patients with hookworm disease and onchocerciasis th an in those with atopic dermatitis and in healthy controls. The results sug gest that besides serum EPX, urinary EPX may be a. useful clinical chemical parameter in eosinophilia of helminth and allergic aetiology.