ECP Levels In Chronic Persis Tent Of Patients With Neutro Philic Asthma And Changes After Inhalating Treatment

Objectives To study the roles of eosinophilic cationic protein(ECP) in the patients with neutrophilic asthma(NA),we observed the ECP levels in the peripheral blood plasma and Induced sputum of the patients with chronic persistent NA and examined the changes after inhalating treatment.Methods Patients with chronic persistent asthma who were not treated by standard therapy were divided into NA group(n=19), eosinophilic asthma(EA) group (n=23) based on the sputum cell counts.All the entrants inhaling budesonide formoterol powder for a month were detected the lung functions, ECP levels and cell counts in the peripheral blood plasma and sputum at the Oth and 31th respectively,and the results were compared between the two groups, the before and after treatment.Results (1)The sex, age of NA group and EA group were comparable (p<0.05);(2) Before treatment, the blood ECP levels of NA group was (35.26+14.45) pg/ml, there was no difference compaired with the levels of EA group (P> 0.05). The sputum ECP levels of NA group was (25.79+6.91) pg/ml, and there was no difference between group EA and group NA (P> 0.05).(3) After 1 month treatment,the ECP levels of the peripheral blood plasma and sputum had no changes;(4)After 1 month treatment, the peripheral blood plasma WBC,NEU%,NEU and sputum cell total, NEU%,NEU of NA group decreased and sputum EOS%,FEV1%,PEF% increased(p<0.05),while no changes in the ECP levels.(5)Serum and sputum ECP levels correlated positively with NEU%, EOS%respectively(p< 0.05),while sputum ECP levels correlated negatively with FEV1/FVC, NEU% correlated negatively with FEV1%、PEF%.Conclusions ECP exists in the peripheral blood plasma and sputum of the patients with chronic persistent NA, and the ECP levels are not different compaired with the levels of EA group and is related closely with airflow limitation; At the initial stage of combined inhalation therapy,it has a certain effect on airway neutrophil numbers in patients with NA,but it can not reduce the ECP levels.