Eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP – Eosinophil cationic protein)
Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) is released from activated eosinophil granulocytes and is a marker of eosinophilic inflammation. High levels have been associated with active asthma and other allergic conditions.
ECP is a ribonuclease that has cytotoxic, neurotoxic, fibrosis and immunomodulatory properties. Regular ECP measurement can help keep asthma under control. It can help determine the severity of airway inflammation and helps determine the appropriate treatment in patients with asthma. ECP helps in an accurate diagnosis by determining whether eosinophilic inflammation is involved in the disease and whether the patient is responding to inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) therapy. In addition, a disease risk assessment is performed, determining the severity of asthma and airway inflammation and the potential risk of asthma exacerbations. Finally, it provides a guide for determinig the correct dosage of ICS therapy and monitoring patient compliance with the anti-inflammatory asthma treatment.