How to predict risk of developing asthma in allergic rhinitis? Use serum eosinophil granule proteins ECP and EPO

Allergic rhinitis is a very common condition and some patients go on to develop asthma. Predicting who those patients will be, may offer the possibility for prevention.

How to predict risk of developing asthma in allergic rhinitis?

A Dannish study of 45 patients evaluated eosinophil proteins as indicators of deteriorating allergic airway disease:

- serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP)
- serum eosinophil peroxidase (EPO)


Eosinophil. Image source: Wikipedia.

Patients developing asthma had significantly higher serum ECP and EPO. Blood eosinophils and nasal lavage parameters were not related to development of asthma.

The authors concluded that serum ECP and EPO in patients with allergic rhinitis can predict later development of asthma.


Mediators from Eosinophils

References:

Serum eosinophil granule proteins predict asthma risk in allergic rhinitis. Nielsen LP, Peterson CG, Dahl R. Allergy. 2008 Dec 24.
Eosinophils. Allergy Cases, 2009.
Poor asthma control? – then look up the nose. The importance of co-morbid rhinitis in patients with asthma http://goo.gl/0nNZg
Posted by Author on 2/06/2009
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2 comments:

  1. Martin2/06/2009

    I'd consider this a pilot study that deserves replicastion: only 45 patients (from 63 originally included), no rigorous test of the diagnosis of asthma... interesting, but not convincing

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous2/06/2009

    I agree.

    Thank you for your feedback, Martin.

    ReplyDelete

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