ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In the pathogenesis of cow's milk allergy, abnormal immunologically mediated reactions play a basic role. Eosinophil activation also participates in the development of several allergies. The purpose of this study was to characterize the degree of this activation by measuring the serum level of eosinophil cationic protein (sECP) and establishing whether it is a useful parameter in monitoring oral cow's milk allergy. METHODS: The sECP level of 35 patients with previously confirmed cow's milk allergy (mean age, 16 months) was evaluated using a fluoroimmunoassay before the cow's milk rechallenge test and at 2 hours and 24 hours after cow's milk challenge. RESULTS: Of the 35 children with previously confirmed cow's milk allergy, 10 had positive clinical reactions after the milk rechallenge test, whereas 25 children had no reaction. The median sECP level of all the patients before the challenge test was significantly higher (12.4 microg/L) than that of the control group (4.3 microg/L) (P < 0.05). Two hours after the challenge, the median sECP of all patients (9.4 microg/L) was lower than the starting values. The median sECP levels were higher in children with positive challenge test results at all time points. However, this difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The normalization of sECP level may indicate the cessation of the cow's milk allergy. Therefore, the measurement of sECP may be helpful in determining the optimal time in which to repeat the challenge test, when the result will more likely be negative. The significant decrease of the sECP level 2 hours after the beginning of milk challenge test may be explained by the fact that this protein is excreted into the intestinal lumen.
Subject(s)
Blood Proteins/metabolism , Milk Hypersensitivity/blood , Ribonucleases , Animals , Case-Control Studies , Cattle , Child, Preschool , Eosinophil Granule Proteins , Female , Fluoroimmunoassay , Humans , Infant , Inflammation Mediators , Male , Milk Hypersensitivity/immunologyABSTRACT
IL-4, IL-5, tryptase and eosinophil cationic protein levels were measured in nasal lavage fluid from 15 pollen allergic rhinitis beyond pollen season. Allergy was proved by prick test. There were 15 non allergic children in the control group. Specific nasal allergen provocation was performed on the rhinitic group. Nasal lavage were done before, 1 and 12 hours after the provocation. Before the nasal provocation the ECP and IL-4 levels were significantly higher in the allergic group compared to the non allergic group. The levels of tryptase, ECP and IL-4 rose significantly after the provocation. The results reflect to the possibility of an activated immune status in allergic rhinitis even without the presence of the triggering pollens. After the specific provocation elevated tryptase levels were measured, referring to the activity of the early phase of the I. type hypersensitivity reaction, while the ECP and IL-5 elevation to its late phase. According to our examinations it can be said, that tryptase, ECP and IL-5 might be used to detect the activation of the early and late phases of the IgE mediated hypersensitive reaction.
Subject(s)
Blood Proteins/metabolism , Immunoglobulin E/metabolism , Inflammation Mediators/metabolism , Interleukin-4/metabolism , Interleukin-5/metabolism , Mitogens/metabolism , Nose , Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal/metabolism , Ribonucleases , Serine Endopeptidases/metabolism , Adolescent , Biomarkers/analysis , Case-Control Studies , Child , Chymases , Eosinophil Granule Proteins , Humans , Male , Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal/enzymology , Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal/immunology , Therapeutic Irrigation , TryptasesABSTRACT
The eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) level in the sera is higher in allergic diseases. The change of the ECP level in the sera of patients with cow milk allergy was examined during the cow's milk challenge test after a long cow's milk free diet period. The sECP level of 35 milk sensitive patients was determined by a fluoroimmunoassay (Pharmacia CAP System ECP FEIA) before the milk challenge test, as well as 2 and 24 hours after it. The average age of the patients was 16 (6-49) months. The basic sECP level of cow's milk allergic patients was significantly higher (12.2 micrograms/l vs. 7.0 micrograms/l, p < 0.05) than that of the control group (n = 20). The sECP level significantly decreased 2 hours after the milk challenge test (12.2 micrograms/l vs. 9.2 micrograms/l, p = 0.01), 24 hours after the challenge it was again on the basic level (11.2 micrograms/l, p = 0.26). Out of the 35 allergic children ten had positive clinical reactions after the milk challenge test (positive group), while 25 had no reaction after it (negative group). Comparing the sECP level of these two groups, no significant difference was found in the sECP level either before the milk challenge test or after it. The significant decrease of the sECP level 2 hours after the beginning of milk challenge test might be explained by the fact that this toxic protein is secreted into the bowel.
Subject(s)
Blood Proteins/metabolism , Inflammation Mediators/metabolism , Milk Hypersensitivity/blood , Milk/adverse effects , Ribonucleases , Animals , Child , Child, Preschool , Eosinophil Granule Proteins , Female , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
The authors measured the serum and copro eosinophil cationic protein levels before and after the food challenge. Twenty children with food allergy and 20 controls were investigated. Under 6 years the oral food provocation test prepared a simplier way above 6 years double blind-placebo-controlled-food-challenge was made. The authors measured the serum and copro eosinophil cationic protein levels by Pharmacia CAP system. The faeces was prepared based on Kolmannskog method. The value of serum was 12.6 +/- 7.7 (mean +/- SD), while the values of faeces was 93.96 +/- 47.5 (micrograms/l). The serum level of control's was 7.72 +/- 5.2 (mean +/- SD) and than in the faeces the level was 13.78 +/- 8.97 (micrograms/l), 19 food allergic children's eosinophil cationic protein level significantly increased after challenge while then serum level did not change. It can be concluded that follow up of food allergic reaction can be regarded as a more exact with measure of the copro eosinophil cationic protein.
Subject(s)
Cations/analysis , Feces/chemistry , Food Hypersensitivity/blood , Child , Child, Preschool , Eosinophils/metabolism , Female , Food Hypersensitivity/metabolism , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
The authors studied copro-allergen specific IgE, eosinophil cationic protein, alpha-1 antitrypsin, IgA and IgG levels in 20 food allergic patients and in 20 controls. It was found that the copro-allergen specific IgE and eosinophil cationic protein levels were significantly higher in food allergic group than in the control group. Carrying out an oral challenge in real food allergic group the copro-allergen specific IgE and eosinophil cationic protein levels were measured before and after the provocation. The results proved that the stopping of allergenic exposure the local immunreactions will finish. Proving this fact it can be said that 24 hours later in the faeces samples the IgE levels decreased and in some case disappeared. The change of eosinophil cationic protein levels during and after the oral challenge proves the important role of eosinophils in late phase reaction. Finally it can be stated that authors introduced a new non invasive methods which is very suitable and reliable to study local immunoreaction in the gastrointestinal tract.
Subject(s)
Allergens/immunology , Blood Proteins/immunology , Feces/chemistry , Food Hypersensitivity/immunology , Immunoglobulin E/immunology , Inflammation Mediators/immunology , Ribonucleases , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Digestive System/immunology , Eosinophil Granule Proteins , Female , Humans , Immunologic Tests , Infant , MaleABSTRACT
The authors examined the value of the chemoluminescent assay (CLA) in 35 asthmatic children. Each serum sample was examined concerning its reaction with 35 allergen extracts and the appropriate IgE value was also determined. The allergen-panel was adapted to the Hungarian prevalence. Results were read within 24 hours. Skin prick test and in vitro CLA results were in agreement in 89% of measurement. Purified, major antigens (grass, mite) gave a specially good concordance. Good agreement was also found in highly sensitized patients and children in the age below 3 years; in such cases RAST and CLA values were compared. In discordant cases revision of anamnesis supported the positive CLA result, however in some (5) negative CLA test this could not be strengthened. Chemoluminescent assay was shown to be fast, reliable and risk-free method, but high costs still limit its general use.
Subject(s)
Asthma/immunology , Allergens , Asthma/diagnosis , Child , Humans , Immunoglobulin E/immunology , Intradermal Tests , Luminescent Measurements , Radioallergosorbent TestABSTRACT
The authors found, that the incidence of hypochromic, microcytic anaemia was 4 percent, and more than half of the children were suffered from iron deficiency. The causes are the inadequate daily iron uptake and/or increase iron requirement. It is very important to increase the iron content of the food and/or the prophylactic or therapeutic iron treatment.
Subject(s)
Anemia, Hypochromic/epidemiology , Iron/therapeutic use , Anemia, Hypochromic/drug therapy , Anemia, Hypochromic/prevention & control , Child , Child, Preschool , Humans , Hungary/epidemiology , Iron/administration & dosageABSTRACT
The authors report on a clinical study conducted in 1985/86 for evaluating the efficacy of Broncho-Vaxom in children with chronic bronchitis. They observed, during the Broncho-Vaxom therapy, a significant reduction in the number and severity of the acute episodes as well as the significant reduction of the use of antibiotics. They recommend the use of Broncho-Vaxom in chronic, recurrent respiratory infections.
