Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
2001-5-7
pubmed:abstractText
Although studies examining the serum suggest a role for eosinophils in wheezing episodes in infants and toddlers, the presence of a chronic eosinophilic inflammation within their airways remains to be demonstrated. In this study we investigated whether eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels are increased in BAL fluid (BALF) from infants and toddlers with recurrent wheezing episodes, during an asymptomatic period. The levels of ECP in BALF were quantitated by radioimmunoassay in 61 children (36 with severe recurrent episodes of wheezing and 25 who were non-wheezy), aged 6-36 months, in whom flexible bronchoscopy was clinically indicated. BALF eosinophil counts were < or = 1% in all patients and did not differ in wheezers, compared to non-wheezers. In contrast, ECP levels in BALF were > or = 2.2 micrograms/l in 18 of 36 (50%) wheezy infants but in only three of 25 (12%) control infants (p < 0.01). Neutrophil counts were significantly higher in the wheezer group than in the non-wheezer group (8.1 x 10(3) cells/ml vs. 3.0 x 10(3) cells/ml). ECP levels in the BALF were not correlated with the absolute number of eosinophils (r = 0.03; p = 0.8) but were correlated with the absolute number of neutrophils (r = 0.54; p = 0.001). There was no association between high ECP levels in BALF and the atopic status of the wheezers. In conclusion, ECP levels are increased in BALF from young children with recurrent wheezing episodes, even during relatively quiescent periods, suggesting a chronic increased cell activation in the lower airways.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Apr
pubmed:issn
0905-6157
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
12
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
65-72
pubmed:dateRevised
2008-5-28
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2001
pubmed:articleTitle
Increased eosinophil cationic protein levels in bronchoalveolar lavage from wheezy infants.
pubmed:affiliation
Unité de Pharmacologie Cellulaire, Unité Associée Institut Pasteur/INSERM U-285, Paris, France.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Comparative Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't