Urinary Eosinophil Protein X in Children with Atopic Asthma
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between urinary eosinophil protein X (uEPX) and asthma symptoms, lung function, and other markers of eosinophilic airway inflammation in asthmatic school children.Methods. A cross-sectional study was performed in 180 steroid dependent atopic children with stable moderately severe asthma, who were stable on 200 or 500μg of fluticasone per day. uEPX was measured in a single sample of urine and was normalized for creatinine concentration (uEPX/c). Symptom scores were kept on a diary card.FEV1andPD20methacholine were measured. Sputum induction was performed in 49 andFENOlevels measured in 24 children.Results. We found an inverse correlation between uEPX/c andFEV1(r=−.20,P=.01) and a borderline significant correlation between uEPX/c andPD20methacholine (r=−.15,P=.06). Symptom score,%eosinophils and ECP in induced sputum andFENOlevels did not correlate with uEPX/c.Conclusion. uEPX/c levels did not correlate with established markers of asthma severity and eosinophilic airway inflammation in atopic asthmatic children.