Eosinophilic cationic protein as a marker for detection of acute exacerbations of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

• Published in: The Egyptian journal of chest diseases and tuberculosis Vol. 70; no. 2; pp. 205 - 207
• Main Authors: Osman, Osama, El Zohne, Randa, Elminshawy, Alaa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01.04.2021; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: acute exacerbation; Biological markers; Care and treatment; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Diagnosis; eosinophilic cationic protein; Eosinophils; Health aspects; Lung diseases, Obstructive; Methods; Patient monitoring; Physiological aspects; Egypt; acute exacerbation; eosinophilic cationic protein; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• ISSN: 0422-7638; 2090-9950
• DOI: 10.4103/ejcdt.ejcdt_147_20

Background Eosinophilic inflammatory processes have been implicated in the pathophysiology of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) could be a diagnostic marker for diagnosis of AECOPD. Patients and methods A total of 84 individuals were enrolled in this study: 32 patients with AECOPD, 32 patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and 20 healthy controls. Serum levels of ECP were collected and measured using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The mean concentrations of serum ECP in patients with AECOPD were significantly higher compared with stable COPD and the control group (P<0.05). At cutoff of more than 13.41 ng/ml, ECP exhibited the best performance: 82.2% sensitivity, 93% specificity, 92.5% positive predictive value, and 72.4% negative predictive value, with a diagnostic accuracy of 86%. Conclusion Serum ECP is a useful diagnostic marker to evaluate the inflammatory reaction in COPD exacerbations.