THE USE OF SERUM EOSINOPHILIC CATIONIC PROTEIN IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF ALLERGIC RHINITIS
1Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, 4th Otorhinolaryngology Clinic, Ankara, Turkey2Inonu University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Malatya, Turkeyz
3Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, 2nd Otorhinolaryngology Clinic, Turkey
4Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Chest Diseases Clinic, Ankara, Turkey Objective: Early diagnosis and treatment are very important in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) in order to provide them a higher life quality and to stop the progress of their illness. We have tested whether the high levels of serum eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) concentrations can distinguish between patients with AR and those with healthy controls. The relationship between other serum inflammation markers was also evaluated.
Materials and Methods: In our study, serum ECP concentrations of 49 patients with AR were measured and compared with control group including 26 healthy people. Every subject underwent the skin prick test, serum total eosinophil count, phadiotop, total IgE and specific IgE level measurements. Serum ECP levels were measured by the commercially available immunoassay technique (Pharmacia CAP).
Results: Studies have indicated that; serum ECP levels in patients with AR are higher than in healthy human. (Mean ECP level was 12.75µg/l in patient group and 6.62µg/l in control group). The sensitivity of serum ECP was found as % 81.6 and specificity was found as % 57.6.
Conclusion: From this observational study it is concluded that serum ECP might be used as a marker which can easily be measured in a clinical setting in the diagnosis of AR when it is used together with skin prick tests. Although it could diagnose AR with a high sensitivity, additional tests will be needed for exact diagnosis.
Keywords : Allergic rhinitis, eosinophilic cationic protein