The Effect of Corticosteroid Therapy on Blood Eosinophils and Eosinophilic Cationic Protein in Patients with Acute and Chronic Asthma

There is evidence that eosinophils are involved in inflammation in asthma, a correlation having been observed between blood eosinophil (B-EOS) count and pulmonary function. It has been suggested that eosinophils, and its product, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), can serve as markers of disease act...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of asthma 1999-01, Vol.36 (7), p.555-564
Main Authors: Marouf, R., Khadadah, M. E., Onadeko, B. O., Mustafa, H. T. S., Khamis, A., Ezeamuzie, C. E., Sugathan, T. N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acute Disease
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Anti-Asthmatic Agents - therapeutic use
Asthma
Asthma - blood
Asthma - drug therapy
Asthma - physiopathology
Biological and medical sciences
Blood Proteins - analysis
Chronic Disease
Corticosteroids
Disease activity
Eosinophil Granule Proteins
Eosinophils
Female
Glucocorticoids - therapeutic use
Humans
Leukocyte Count
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Peak Expiratory Flow Rate
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Respiratory system
Ribonucleases
Tropical medicine
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Summary:There is evidence that eosinophils are involved in inflammation in asthma, a correlation having been observed between blood eosinophil (B-EOS) count and pulmonary function. It has been suggested that eosinophils, and its product, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), can serve as markers of disease activity. This paper examines this hypothesis. B-EOS count, serum ECP level, and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were estimated in two groups of asthmatics and controls at three visits in 4 weeks. The mean B-EOS count in acute and stable asthmatic groups was higher than in controls at presentation; the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.02). Similarly, mean ECP was higher in the two groups than in controls, but with no statistically significant difference. The B-EOS count and serum ECP level within the groups fell between week 0 and week 4 because of treatment. There was positive correlation between ECP and PEF and also between B-EOS and ECP and PEF. The findings reveal that blood eosinophils reflect some degree of activity in asthmatic patients in the acute and chronic state.
ISSN:0277-0903
1532-4303
DOI:10.3109/02770909909087292