ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the roles of plasma mast cell carboxypeptidase and chymase in the diagnosis of allergic diseases by measuring the contents of both in children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 59 children with allergic diseases and 53 healthy children were recruited into the study. Plasma levels of mast cell carboxypeptidase and chymase were measured using ELISA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The plasma levels of mast cell carboxypeptidase and chymase in children with allergic children were 1.089 ± 0.752 ng/mL and 0.905(0.375-2.318) ng/mL, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in healthy children [0.593 ± 0.380 ng/mL and 0.454 (0.097-1.077) ng/mL respectively; P<0.05]. There was a significantly positive correlation between plasma mast cell carboxypeptidase and chymase levels in children with allergic diseases (r=0.684, P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Plasma levels of mast cell carboxypeptidase and chymase increase in children with allergic diseases, suggesting that mast cell carboxypeptidase and chymase may serve as the indexes for the diagnosis of allergic diseases.</p>