Analysis of the allergic inflammation markers of bronchiolitis in infants

Abstract

Bronchiolitis, according to European studies, is the most common viral infection of the lower respiratory tract, that accounts for 18% of all hospitalized infants. Given that the eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) is one of the main proteins found in the granules of eosinophils, it is important to count it as a marker of allergic inflammation in bronchiolitis. The aim of the study was to explore and exam the clinical features and markers of the inflammatory allergic process of bronchiolitis in infants. METHODS: A clinical examination of 40 infants who were hospitalized in clinical pediatric hospital was conducted. Regarding the complex clinical - a laboratory examination of children was done to determine the levels of ECP and IgE in blood serum. RESULTS: In infants with bronchiolitis with a background of an allergic history - the severity of the disease was manifestoed by a longer course of symptoms and a longer stay at the hospital clinic. It was found that in infants of the main group, the average content of ECP (49.15±10.87 ng /mL) in the blood serum was significantly higher than in children of the comparison group (15.3±2.88 ng /mL), (P<0.05). In most children in main group (55.6±10.24%) the level of IgE was within the reference values (19.43±6.17 IU /mL). CONCLUSIONS: Eosinophilic cationic protein is a laboratory component that can be used for inflammatory respiratory diseases in children. Elevated ECP levels in serum were significantly more detected than IgE in children with bronchiolitis. The level of ECP has a high specificity and sensitivity in infants with bronchiolitis with an allergic background in their history; however, it requires the support of other allergic inflammatory markers in children without allergic history.