The Expression of ECP in the Perennial Allergic Rhinitis and Correlations with Mucociliary Clearance

통년성 알레르기성 비염에서의 ECP의 발현양상과 점액섬모수송기간과의 관계

The role of the ECP(Eosinophilic cationic protein) is still unknown in the allergic rhinitis. In bronchial asthma, ECP can induce the exposure of the neuropeptidergic nerve to environments destroying the bronchial mucosa, aggravating the bronchial hypersensitivity and delay the mucociliary clearance. In the clinical aspect, we can (md that patients with perennial allergic rhinitis sometimes have sinusitis. The purpose of this article is to evaluate whether mucosal damage by ECP can play a role to develop the sinusitis by delaying the mucociliary clearance, and relationship between long symptom duration of allergic rhinitis and mucociliary clearance. In 32 perennial allergic rhinitis patients, we elucidated there is correlation among ECP presence, mucociliary clearance, sinusitis, and symptom durations. The obtained results were as follows : 1. ECP appeared in all mucosa of each specimen. 2. Mean mucociliary clearance time is 6 mins. 12 sec. in allergic patients with sinusitis, 6 mins. 36 sec in allergic patients without sinusitis. 3. n out of 32 cases have mucosal destruction. 4. Symptom duration is not correlated with the development of sinusitis. This study suggests that ECP may destroy the mucosa in allergic rhinitis and the mucociliary clearance of allergic rhinitis is not related to sinusitis and symptom dotation. Therefore development of sinusitis in allergic rhinitis seems not to be caused by delaying of mucociliary clearance due to mucosal destruction, but by some other factors.