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Serum Eosinophil Cationic Protein (ECP) as a Biomarker for Distinguishing Pediatric Allergic Airway Diseases

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This study evaluated serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) as a biomarker for pediatric allergic airway diseases. A cross-sectional analysis was performed on children (1–17 years) with allergic asthma (AA, n = 124), allergic rhinitis (AR, n = 74), acute bronchitis (AB, n = 72), and healthy controls (HC, n = 58). Serum ECP, total IgE, eosinophil counts, allergen sensitization, and lung function were measured. Diagnostic performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and correlations among biomarkers were examined. Compared with HC, serum ECP levels were significantly elevated across all disease groups (AA, AR, and AB), with a particularly marked difference observed between AA and AR patients (p < 0.0001). The combination of ECP and IgE significantly improved the diagnostic accuracy for AA (AUC = 0.9494) and AR (AUC = 0.9501). Higher ECP levels were associated with increased sensitization to specific inhalant allergens and impaired pulmonary function, particularly in small airway indices. Serum ECP reflects eosinophil-mediated airway inflammation and enhances diagnostic performance for pediatric AA and AR, supporting its role as an auxiliary biomarker in evaluating pediatric allergic airway diseases.

Source: International Journal of Molecular Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/ijms27073045

Authors: Xiaolin Chen, Siyu Tan, Qinxue Lu, Ting Liu, Yongmei Jiang

Institutions: Sichuan University, West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy

Language: English

Topic: Asthma and respiratory diseases

Subfield: Physiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,499