EOSINOPHIL CATIONIC PROTEIN AND TRYPTASE IN THE NASAL LAVAGE FLUID OFPATIENTS WITH GRASS-POLLEN ALLERGIC RHINITIS

In 12 children with grass pollen allergic rhinitis and in 4 nonallergi c control subjects levels of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and try ptase in nasal-lavage fluid (NAL) and rhinitis symptoms were examined before and aster specific nasal provocation rest (NPTs) outside the re levant pollen season. In allergic patients the ECP levels were Sound t o be significantly higher in the NAL taken 24 hours but not 2 hours af ter challenge compared with NAL taken before challenge. Tryptase level s were unchanged 2 and 24 hours after NPTs. In control group ECP and t ryptase in NAL were unchanged after NPTs. NPTs induced nasal symptoms only in allergic patients. Therefore NPTs and NAL are useful tools to investigate the release of mediators during the immediate and late nas al allergic reaction.