Abstract 216

Background: Serum ECP reflects airway inflammation in children with asthma. It has been suggested that elevation of serum ECP in stable asthmatic patients might be used to predict an exacerbation. Aims: We planned to determine whether elevation of serum ECP in stable asthmatic children could be used to predict an exacerbation of symptoms.

Methods: Symptom scores, respiratory function tests and serum ECP (IMMUNOCAP fluorouimmunoassay, Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden) were measured in 22 asthmatic children aged between 4 and 15 years. All had symptoms in the preceding 4 weeks and all but one were receiving inhaled steroids. A repeat symptom score was taken 4 weeks later and exacerbation defined as worsening score or increased requirement of inhaled steroids. Samples for ECP were incubated at 21°C for 1 hour, then centrifuged and the supernatant frozen at -70°C for later analysis. ECP > 15microg/L was considered to be elevated.

Results: Six had ECP levels > 15. Respiratory function tests are expressed as % predicted and median and range displayed. The proportion with exacerbation is expressed as a percentage. There are no statistically significant differences between the groups. Table

Table 1
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Conclusion: From this pilot study, ECP was of no value in predicting which asthmatic children were at greater risk of developing an exacerbation.