Allergic inflammatory markers in upper respiratory allergies

: The inflammatory mediators of allergy were investigated in symptomatic patients suffering from upper respiratory tract allergy. The serum tryptase level as an indicator of mast cell activation and serum eosinophil cationic protein level as an indicator of eosinophil activation were measured. They did not find any alteration in the serum level of tryptase. The level of eosinophil cationic protein significantly increased in symptomatic patients comparing to normal healthy controls. There was not any correlation to the severity of symptoms and to the absolute eosinophil count in the peripheral blood. The different activation possibilities of the eosinophil granulocytes are discussed, highlighting the role of Th2-helper lymphocytes.