THERAPIE-MONITORING DES ASTHMA BRONCHIALE BEI KINDERN MITTELS EPX-MESSUNG IM URIN

Activated eosinophils play a major role in the asthmatic airway inflammation. Knowledge about the inflammatory process in the pathogenesis of asthma led to change in pharmacotherapy with an increased use of anti-inflammatory drugs like inhalant steroids. However, dose-dependent occurrence of side-effects must be expected. Therefore, appropriate ways for monitoring of anti-inflammatory treatment are needed. The objective of this study was to clarify whether increased amounts of Eosinophil Protein X in urine (U-EPX) of children could reflect the degree of asthmatic inflammation. In this study we measured the contents of Eosinophil Protein X in spontaneous samples of urine of 18 asthmatic individuals and of 5 nonatopic controls (average age 7 years) by radio-immuno-assay (Pharmacia). Patients admitted to hospital with acute asthmatic attacks showed significantly increased levels of U-EPX (mean 384.5 μg/mmol creatinine) compared with children with stable asthma using antiinflammatory treatment(mean 100.8 μg/mmol creatinine). Both groups had higher U-EPX levels than nonatopic controls (mean 89.8 μg/mmol creatinine). Conclusion: Increased levels of U-EPX appear to reflect airway inflammation in asthmatic patients. If this suggestion holds true in larger study groups, measuring contents of U-EPX may be an appropriate tool for an objective and noninvasive monitoring of antiinflammatory therapy in asthmatic children.