The use of serum and nasal eosinophilic cationic protein in the evaluation of the effectiveness of immunotherapy in patients with allergic rhinitis

Objectives: We investigated the use of eosinophilic
cationic protein (ECP) as an indicator of clinical efficiency
of specific immunotherapy (SIT) in patients
with allergic rhinitis sensitive to house dust mites.
Patients and Methods: Specific immunotherapy was
administered to 49 patients (20 males, 29 females;
mean age 34.2 years; range 16 to 66 years) with
perennial allergic rhinitis. Nasal secretion and serum
ECP levels were measured before, at the 6th month
of, and two years after completion of, treatment.
Comparisons were made within the patient group and
with a control group of 16 healthy subjects (10 males,
6 females; mean age 23 years; range 17 to 26 years).
Results: Pretreatment nasal ECP levels were significantly
higher than those found after the treatment
(p<0.001). Nasal ECP levels measured before SIT
were significantly different from those of the control
group (p<0.05). However, serum ECP levels did not
differ significantly between the two groups (p>0.05).
Serum ECP levels in the patient group tended to
decrease with treatment (p>0.05).
Conclusion: We conclude that, in addition to the
symptoms and clinical findings, nasal ECP measurement
may be a reliable and suitable laboratory
method to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of
treatment.

Alerjik rinitli hastalarda serum ve nazal eozinofilik katyonik proteinin immünoterapi etkinliðinin deðerlendirilmesindeki rolü

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