妊娠期高血压疾病中血清可溶性Endoglin水平变化的研究

目的检测正常妊娠和妊娠期高血压疾病患者血清中Endoglin的水平,探究其与妊娠期高血压疾病的发病关系及意义。方法采用酶联免疫吸附双抗体夹心法（ELISA）检测44例妊娠期高血压疾病患者（妊娠期高血压疾病组,其中妊娠期高血压15例、轻度子痫前期14例、重度子痫前期15例）及16例正常晚期妊娠妇女（对照组）,22例正常中期妊娠妇女血清中Endoglin水平。结果妊娠期高血压疾病组血清Endoglin浓度为（2.86±2.15）ng/ml,正常晚期妊娠组为（1.14＋0.46）ng/ml,两组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。妊娠期高血压、轻度子痫前期、重度子痫前期患者血清中可溶性Endoglin水平逐渐升高[分别为（1.68±0.78）ng/ml,（2.49±1.10）ng/ml,（4.44±2.94）ng/ml],各组间差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）,且有随孕周增加而逐渐增加的趋势。正常中期妊娠组血清中Endoglin浓度为（0.83±0.32）ng/ml,与正常晚期妊娠组比较差异有统计学意义。结论血清Endoglin水平升高可能与妊娠期高血压疾病的发病及病情发展有关,并有可能成为疾病的预测指标。     

妊娠期高血压疾病患者血清及胎盘组织中Endoglin水平变化的研究

目的研究妊娠期高血压疾病患者血清及胎盘组织中Endoglin水平的变化及临床意义。方法采用酶联免疫吸附双抗体夹心法（ELISA）及免疫组化方法检测68例妊娠期高血压疾病患者（妊娠期高血压疾病组,其中妊娠期高血压23例、轻度子痫前期22例、重度子痫前期23例）及20例正常妊娠妇女（对照组）血清及胎盘组织中Endoglin水平。结果妊娠期高血压疾病组血清可溶性Endoglin水平（29.66±8.52 ng/ml）明显高于对照组（10.42±4.35ng/ml）,（P〈0.01）。妊娠期高血压、轻度子痫前期、重度子痫前期患者血清中可溶性Endoglin水平逐渐升高（分别为13.24±6.17ng/ml,28.28±10.19ng/ml,42.50±13.48ng/ml）,各组间差异有显著性（均P〈0.01）。妊娠期高血压疾病组与对照组比较胎盘组织中Endoglin表达明显升高（P〈0.01）。妊娠期高血压、轻、重度子痫前期胎盘组织中Endoglin表达逐渐增强,各组间差异具有显著性（P〈0.05）。两组血清中可溶性Endoglin水平与胎盘组织Endoglin表达呈正相关（r=0.504,P〈0.05及r=0.532,P〈0.05）。结论 Endoglin水平升高可能与妊娠期高血压疾病的发病及病情发展有关。     

妊娠期高血压疾病患者瘦素、胰岛素测定及其与新生儿生长发育的关系

目的探讨妊娠期高血压疾病与瘦素、胰岛素的相关性及临床价值.方法1.采用放射免疫法检测62例妊娠期高血压疾病患者及30例正常组患者的母血、脐血瘦素和胰岛素水平,分析在不同程度妊娠期高血压疾病中的差异,及瘦素、胰岛素水平之间的相关性.2.分析脐血瘦素、胰岛素与妊娠期高血压疾病患者的新生儿体重、Ponder指数(PI=体重×100/身长3)的关系.结果妊娠期高血压疾病患者血清瘦素水平明显高于正常妊娠组,瘦素、胰岛素水平呈明显正相关.其中妊娠期高血压组、轻度子痫前期组、重度子痫前期组的新生儿体重、Ponder指数均与脐血瘦素正相关,与母血瘦素无关;而该相关性在子痫组则未发现.结论母血瘦素、胰岛素共同参与妊娠高血压疾病的发病且随病情的加重有逐渐升高的趋势.脐血中瘦素含量可能对新生儿生长发育有重要调节作用,可作为一项预测新生儿体重的指标.     

高龄产妇并发妊娠期高血压疾病对围生期结局的影响

目的探讨孕高龄产妇并发妊娠期高血压疾病对围生期结局的影响。方法对43例35岁或以上的妊娠期高血压疾病孕妇（观察组）进行了回顾性分析并与同期分娩的35岁以下的妊娠期高血压疾病孕妇238例（对照组）作对照分析。结果观察组子痫前期、子痫的发生率与对照组比较差异有非常显著性（P〈0.01）;观察组胎盘早剥、HELLP综合征、妊娠高血压心脏病等严重并发症的发生率与对照组比较无显著性差异（P〉0.05）;观察组早产、胎儿生长受限、围产儿死亡的发生率比对照组高,差异有显著性（P〈0.05）;新生儿窒息、胎儿窘迫的发生率两组比较,差异无显著性（P〉0.05）,观察组剖宫产率较对照组明显增加,两组间差异有显著性（P〈0.05）。结论高龄产妇并发妊娠期高血压疾病病情重,对母儿危害大,恰当的围产期管理并适时终止妊娠是治疗成功的关键。     

Sleep‐disordered breathing in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: a BMI‐matched study

Sleep‐disordered breathing is more common in hypertensive disorders during pregnancy; however, most studies have not adequately accounted for the potential confounding impact of obesity. This study evaluated the frequency of sleep‐disordered breathing in women with gestational hypertension and pre‐eclampsia compared with body mass index‐ and gestation‐matched normotensive pregnant women. Women diagnosed with gestational hypertension or pre‐eclampsia underwent polysomnography shortly after diagnosis. Normotensive controls body mass index‐matched within ±4 kg m^?2 underwent polysomnography within ±4 weeks of gestational age of their matched case. The mean body mass index and gestational age at polysomnography were successfully matched for 40 women with gestational hypertension/pre‐eclampsia and 40 controls. The frequency of sleep‐disordered breathing in the cases was 52.5% compared with 37.5% in the control group (P = 0.18), and the respiratory disturbance index overall did not differ (P = 0.20). However, more severe sleep‐disordered breathing was more than twice as common in women with gestational hypertension or pre‐eclampsia (35% versus 15%, P = 0.039). While more than half of women with a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy meet the clinical criteria for sleep‐disordered breathing, it is also very common in normotensive women of similar body mass index. This underscores the importance of adjusting for obesity when exploring the relationship between sleep‐disordered breathing and hypertension in pregnancy. More severe degrees of sleep‐disordered breathing are significantly associated with gestational hypertension and pre‐eclampsia, and sleep‐disordered breathing may plausibly play a role in the pathophysiology of pregnancy hypertension in these women. This suggests that more severe sleep‐disordered breathing is a potential therapeutic target for reducing the prevalence or severity of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.     

妊娠高血压疾病孕妇血胱抑素C与尿素氮、肌酐检测结果的分析

目的探讨孕妇血清胱抑素C（Cys C）、尿素氮（BUN）和肌酐（Cr）与妊娠期高血压疾病的关系。方法用日立7180全自动生化分析仪对50例妊娠期高血压疾病孕妇及50例妊娠中晚期正常孕妇进行血清Cys C、BUN、Cr的检测。结果重度及轻度子痫前期组Cys C值明显高于正常孕妇组（P〈0.01）,且有显著性差异,重度子痫前期组Cys C明显高于轻度子痫前期组,有显著性差异（P〈0.05）;而重度子痫前期组BUN、Cr明显高于正常孕妇组（P〈0.01）,有显著性差异,但轻度子痫前期组BUN、Cr与正常孕妇组相比,无显著性差异（P〉0.05）。结论血清Cys C的检测对于妊娠期高血压疾病的肾功能损害具有较好的诊断价值,联合检测血清Cys C、BUN、Cr有利于HDCP及其并发的肾功能损害的诊断及监测。     

Soluble Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 Serum Profile in Physiologic and Preeclamptic Pregnancy

PROBLEM: The aim of this study was to determine serum levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM)-1, an adhesion receptor that mediates interactions with the immune system, in physiologic and preeclamptic pregnancies. Moreover, we evaluated whether the release of sICAM-1 during pregnancy correlated to plasma fibronectin concentrations. METHOD OF STUDY: Serum was collected from 18 nonpregnant, control women, from 58 normal pregnant women during the first (n = 13), second (n = 15), and third (n = 30) trimesters, and from 25 preeclamptic patients at 27–39 weeks' gestation. All samples were assayed for sICAM-1 by a specific enzyme-linked immunoassay and for fibronectin by a nephelometric system. Serum sICAM-1 levels in preeclamptic patients were compared to those obtained from gestational-matched normal pregnant women. RESULTS: Levels of sICAM-1 were significantly elevated (P < 0.001) in each of the three trimesters of normal pregnancy (I trimester: 390.4 ± 25.7 ng/ml; II trimester: 386.3 ± 15.4 ng/ml; and III trimester: 367.3 ± 15.8 ng/ml) when compared to those of healthy nonpregnant women (263.3 ± 11.6 ng/ml). No significant difference in sICAM-1 concentrations was observed among the three trimesters. Preeclampsia was associated to a significant decrease (P < 0.01) of sICAM-1 levels (309.8 ± 11.6 ng/ml) relative to those observed in gestational-matched pregnant women (367.3 ± 15.8 ng/ml). Fibronectin and sICAM-1 levels did not correlate. CONCLUSION: The increased levels of sICAM-1 found in physiologic pregnancies and its reduction in preeclampsia may account for some of the immunologic alterations demonstrated to be associated with pregnancy.     

Maternal recreational physical activity is associated with plasma leptin concentrations in early pregnancy

BACKGROUND: A limited amount of literature suggests that plasma leptin concentrations are reduced with habitual physical activity in men and non-pregnant women. We investigated the relationship between maternal physical activity and plasma leptin during early pregnancy. METHODS: The study population included 879 normotensive, non-diabetic pregnant women who reported physical activity type, frequency, and duration in early pregnancy. Plasma leptin, measured in blood samples collected <16 weeks gestation, were determined using enzyme immunoassays. Weekly duration (h/week) and energy expended on recreational physical activity [metabolic equivalent score (MET)-h/week] were categorized by tertiles among active women. Physical activity intensity was categorized as none, moderate (<6 MET) and vigorous (> or =6 MET). Differences in leptin concentrations across categories were estimated using linear regression procedures. RESULTS: Mean leptin was 5.8 ng/ml lower among active versus inactive women (P=0.001). Mean leptin was lower among women in the highest levels (>12.8 h/week) of time performing physical activity (-8.1 ng/ml, P<0.001) and energy expenditure (>70.4 MET-h/week) (-8.3 ng/ml, P=0.001) compared with inactive women. Leptin was inversely associated with the intensity of physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings are consistent with other reports suggesting an independent inverse relationship between habitual physical activity and leptin concentrations. Our findings extend the literature to include pregnant women.     

妊娠期高血压疾病与血钙水平的相关性研究

目的探讨妊娠期高血压疾病与母体血清钙水平的关系。方法检测102例妊娠期高血压疾病患者产前外周血清钙含量,将100例正常晚期妊娠妇女及100例非妊娠健康妇女作为对照组进行比较。结果妊娠期高血压疾病组低钙例数为89例,占87.25%,与妊娠对照组及非妊娠对照组相比,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。妊娠对照组的血钙水平为（2.14±0.30）mmol/L,与非妊娠对照组相比降低,但差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）;而妊娠期高血压疾病组的血钙水平为（1.87±0.28）mmol/L,与妊娠对照组及非妊娠对照组相比显著降低,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论母体血清钙含量降低可能在妊娠期高血压疾病病理生理变化中起重要作用,在监测血钙水平的同时,可进行有针对性的钙剂治疗。     

妊娠期高血压病患者血小板-白细胞聚集体检测的临床意义

目的:探讨妊娠期高血压病(HDCP)患者血小板-白细胞聚集体(PLA)表达百分率变化及临床意义.方法:采用流式细胞术分别检测38例妊娠期高血压病患者(妊娠期高血压病组)、30例正常妊娠晚期孕妇(正常晚孕组)和30例正常非孕妇女(正常非孕组)的血小板-中性粒细胞聚集体(PNA)和血小板-单核细胞聚集体(PMA)表达百分率...     

血清VEGF、sFlt-1、NO在妊娠期高血压疾病患者中的表达水平及意义

目的探讨VEGF,sFlt-1,NO三种因子在妊娠期高血压疾病患者血清中的表达。方法选取在潍坊市妇幼保健住院分娩的80例孕妇为研究对象。实验组40例（包括妊娠期高血压组10例、轻度子痫前期组15例,重度子痫前期组15例）,正常妊娠妇女40例为对照组。比较两组患者血清中VEGF、sFlt-1及NO的表达水平。结果 1.妊娠期高血压疾病患者血清中VEGF的表达水平明显低于对照组（P〈0.05）;sFlt-1的表达水平明显高于对照组（P〈0.05）;NO的表达水平明显低于对照组（P〈0.05）,差异均有统计学意义。2.子痫前期组三种因子的变化最明显。3.实验组sFlt-1/VEGF比值与疾病严重程度呈明显正相关（P〈0.05）。实验组NO表达水平与疾病严重程度呈明显负相关（P〈0.05）。结论妊娠期高血压疾病患者血清sFlt-1表达水平升高,游离VEGF及NO表达水平降低,其升高与降低水平与病情轻重关系密切,参与妊娠期高血压疾病的发生发展。     

妊娠期高血压疾病患者胎盘组织中抵抗素的表达

目的检测抵抗素（Resistin）在妊娠期高血压疾病患者胎盘组织中的表达,探讨抵抗素在妊娠期高血压疾病发病机制中的作用。方法选取妊娠期高血压疾病患者40例,包括妊娠期高血压患者20例,子痫前期患者20例,选取无高血压、糖尿病等并发症的孕妇20例作为对照组。并记录每个患者新生儿出生体重。应用免疫组化SP两步法检测抵抗素在其胎盘组织中的表达情况,对免疫组化切片采用Tanaka等级评分法进行评分。应用studengt t检验,分别对子痫前期组与对照组,妊娠期高血压组与对照组免疫组化评分结果进行比较;并采用双变量相关法,估计胎盘抵抗素的表达与新生儿出生体重的相关性,以P〈0.05为差异有显著性。结果本研究发现抵抗素表达于胎盘绒毛滋养细胞的细胞浆中;对免疫组化切片应用Tanaka等级评分法进行评分,经studengt t检验发现子痫前期组抵抗素在胎盘组织中的表达低于对照组,P〈0.05,差异有显著性;妊娠期高血压组与对照组差异无显著性,P〉0.05。抵抗素在胎盘组织中的表达与新生儿出生体重正相关（r=0.883,P〈0.05）。结论抵抗素可能参与了子痫前期的发病机制,推测其表达下降是由胎盘功能减退引起的,这可能是疾病发展过程中的一个结果而不是原因;抵抗素可能参与了子痫前期胎儿生长受限的发生,其具体机制将有待于进一步研究。     

胰岛素样生长因子-1与妊娠期高血压疾病的相关性研究

目的探讨胰岛素样生长因子-1（IGF-1）与妊娠期高血压疾病发病的关系。方法选取30例妊娠期高血压疾病患者（疾病组）及10例同期住院待产正常孕妇（对照组）血清及胎盘标本，采用放射免疫方法（RIA）检测两组血清中IGF-1浓度水平，采用免疫组织化学SABC法检测IGF-1在两组胎盘中的表达情况。结果疾病组IGF-1水平明显低于对照组且随着疾病的严重程度增加而降低；疾病组与对照组胎盘组织IGF-1表达部位无差异，在疾病组表达明显降低。胎盘IGF-1表达强度与血清IGF-1水平存在直线正相关。结论胰岛素样生长因子-1参与妊娠期高血压疾病发病。     

sICAM-1在妊娠期高血压疾病患者的变化和临床意义

目的探讨可溶性细胞间粘附分子-1(sICAM-1)在妊娠期高血压疾病(HDCP)患者血浆中的变化及其临床意义。方法研究对象包括33例妊娠期高血压疾病患者(其中子痫前期13例、妊娠期高血压20例),20例正常妊娠妇女(均为孕32-35周)和25例正常未孕妇女,应用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)测定各组研究对象血浆中的sICAM-1水平。结果 sIACM-1未孕组443.68±235.17ng/ml,正常妊娠组664.67±287.33 ng/ml,两者性比差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);与正常妊娠组比较,妊娠期高血压组1145.46±326.67 ng/ml,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);子痫前期组1402.89±354.67 ng/ml,明显高于正常妊娠组,差异均具有统计学意义(P<0.01);与妊娠高血压组比较差异有显著性(P<0.05)。结论外周血中sICAM-1水平变化与妊娠期高血压疾病(HDCP)密切相关,随着病情加重sICAM-1值明显升高,提示sICAM-1水平上调与妊娠期高血压疾病的发生有关。     

阿托伐他汀影响自发性高血压大鼠血压的机制探讨

目的：探讨阿托伐他汀控制自发性高血压大鼠（SHR）高血压的机制，研究阿托伐他汀对SHR血浆内皮素-1（ET-1）和主动脉一氧化氮合酶（NOS）的影响，以及对SHR的主动脉平滑肌细胞（ASMC）凋亡和P27蛋白表达的影响。 方法： 选用8周龄SHR 12只，随机分为阿托伐他汀治疗组（ATV组, n=6）和SHR组（n=6），并以同周龄WKY（n=6）作为对照。ATV组给以阿托伐他汀（50 mg·kg-1·d-1）灌胃。10周后观察3组大鼠血压、血清总胆固醇（TC）、总甘油三酯（TG）含量变化，血浆ET-1和主动脉NOS活性的改变，以及TUNEL法检测ASMC凋亡率，测定动脉ASMC P27蛋白表达。 结果： 阿托伐他汀给药10周后，ATV组动脉收缩压显著低于SHR组［（134.17±3.60）mmHg vs （173.33±3.78）mmHg, P<0.01］；ATV组血清TC和TG浓度均显著低于SHR组（P<0.01, P<0.01）。同时，阿托伐他汀显著降低SHR血浆ET-1水平［（130.04±40.07）ng/L vs （196.74±59.69）ng/L，P<0.05］和增加SHR主动脉NOS活性［(0.189±0.040）kU/g protein vs （0.124±0.057）kU/g protein，P<0.01］；ATV组ASMC凋亡率显著高于SHR组（16.94%±3.08% vs 9.01%±2.36%, P<0.01）；ATV组ASMC P27蛋白表达阳性率显著高于WKY大鼠（33.02%±5.01% vs 24.25%±4.41%, P<0.05），而SHR组该指标明显低于WKY大鼠（16.08%±7.09% vs 24.25%±4.41%, P<0.05）。 结论： 阿托伐他汀控制SHR血压增高，其机制可能与降低SHR的血浆ET-1水平和增高主动脉NOS活性，以及增高ASMC凋亡率和P27蛋白表达阳性率有关。     

妊娠期高血压疾病患者血浆蛋白Z检测的临床意义

目的探讨妊娠期高血压疾病患者血浆蛋白质Z（PZ）水平检测的临床意义。方法用ELISA法测定30例妊娠期高血压、33例子痫前期（19例轻度、14例重度）和60例正常妊娠妇女血浆PZ水平,以正常妊娠妇女血浆PZ水平的第5百分位数值作为PZ缺乏的标准（≤1.21mg/L）,采用秩和检验和单因素方差分析比较PZ在各组之间中位数水平和缺乏率的差异。结果妊娠期高血压组和正常妊娠组之间血浆PZ的中位数水平差异无统计学意义（2.04mg/L vs 1.80mg/L,P〉0.05）,子痫前期组血浆PZ的中位数水平（1.57mg/L）显著低于妊娠期高血压组和正常妊娠组（P〈0.001）;正常妊娠组PZ水平的第5百分位数值为1.21mg/L;血浆PZ缺乏率妊娠期高血压组（23.3%）和子痫前期组（45.5%）显著高于正常妊娠组（3.3%）[让步比（OR）8.83,95%CI 1.71-45.7,P=0.006;OR24.2,95%CI 5.0-115.8,P=0.000],妊娠期高血压组和子痫前期组PZ缺乏率差异无统计学意义（OR2.7,95%CI 0.9-8.1,P=0.057）。结论子痫前期患者血浆PZ中位数水平明显减低,而且妊娠期高血压疾病患者血浆PZ缺乏率显著高于正常妊娠患者。提示PZ缺乏可能是妊娠期高血压疾病存在的一个危险因素。     

妊娠期高血压疾病患者血浆Pro BNP水平及其临床意义

目的 观察妊娠期高血压疾病患者Pro BNP水平及临床意义。方法 选择在我院行剖宫产术的妊娠期高血压疾病患者89例为HDCP组,包括妊娠高血压24例,轻度子痫前期21例,重度子痫前期44例;同期在我院行剖宫产术的妊娠晚期健康妇女88例为对照组,采用电化学发光法检测各组Pro BNP并对比。结果 HDCP组Pro BNP为（844.02±788.74）pg/ml,显著高于对照组的（142.90±187.20）pg/ml,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。与对照组相比,轻度子痫前期组和重度子痫前期组Pro BNP均显著增高,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。与妊娠高血压组相比,轻度子痫前期组和重度子痫前期组Pro BNP显著增高,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。重度子痫前期组Pro BNP显著高于轻度子痫前期组,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论 妊娠期高血压疾病患者血浆Pro BNP水平高于妊娠晚期健康妇女,检测妊娠期高血压疾病患者血浆Pro BNP水平可及时了解早期心肌细胞损害及心脏功能情况,对了解病情、观察疗效和预后判断具有重要价值。     

MCP-1在妊娠期高血压疾病患者血清中的变化及意义

目的探讨妊娠期高血压疾病患者血清单核细胞趋化蛋白-1(MCP-1)变化的意义。方法用ELISA法对21例妊娠期高血压疾病患者(其中轻度子痫前期12例,重度子痫前期9例)血清MCP-1浓度进行测定,并选择同期30例正常孕妇作为对照组。结果妊娠期高血压疾病患者血清中MCP-1含量显著高于对照组孕妇,并随病情加重呈增加趋势。结论 MCP-1所参与的免疫反应可能是妊娠期高血压疾病的发病机制之一。     

A selective increase in plasma soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 levels in preeclampsia.

PROBLEM: The study was conducted to determine whether altered plasma levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 are involved in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. METHOD OF STUDY: Maternal plasma samples were collected from 20 patients with preeclampsia, 20 matched normotensive patients with uncomplicated pregnancies. and ten healthy nonpregnant women. Samples were assayed for soluble VCAM-1 and soluble ICAM-1 by specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Both soluble VCAM-1 and soluble ICAM-1 were detectable in the plasma of all preeclamptic, normotensive pregnant, and nonpregnant women. The mean plasma level of soluble VCAM-1 was significantly higher in preeclamptic women compared to normotensive pregnant women (1831 ng/mL +/- 534 ng/mL vs. 1254 ng/mL +/- 386 ng/mL, respectively; P < 0.05). However, the plasma level of soluble VCAM-1 was unchanged during the third-trimester of normal pregnancy compared to nonpregnant women. The mean plasma level of soluble ICAM-1 in preeclamptic and normotensive pregnant women were increased when compared to nonpregnant women. However, the mean plasma level of soluble ICAM-1 was comparable in women with preeclampsia and normotensive pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: The selective increased plasma levels of soluble VCAM-1 in patients with preeclampsia provide evidence for endothelial activation and suggest distinct pathways for neutrophil and endothelial activation in preeclampsia.     

Eosinophil inflammation of the nasal mucosa in allergic and non-allergic rhinitis measured by eosinophil cationic protein levels in native nasal fluid and serum

Eosinophil inflammation is essential in many cases of allergic and non-allergic rhinitis. Activated eosinophils release toxic granule proteins. In this study, we compared the degree of local nasal and systemic eosinophil activation by the determination of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in serum and native nasal fluid from 119 patients. We found no significant differences in serum ECP levels of the various patient groups. In all patient groups, except in the vasomotor rhinitis group, nasal fluid ECP levels differed significantly from normal controls. We found a nasal fluid ECP (mean ± SEM) of 32·6 ± 81 ng/ml for normals, 106 ± 39·7 for non-rhinitic atopics, 87·6 ± 20·8 ng/ml for patients with chronic non-allergic sinusitis, 101·3 ± 40·4 ng/ml for patients with a history of pollinosis, 150·5 ± 35·1 ng/ml for patients with acute pollinosis, 84·7 ± 24·7 ng/ml for individuals with perennial allergic rhinitis and 112·9 ± 25·6 ng/ml for patients with both perennial and seasonal allergy. Patients with nasal polyps had mean nasal ECP levels of 146·9 ± 57·7 ng/ml in absence of allergy and 147·9 ± 54·9 ng/ ml in the presence of allergy. Nasal ECP was 67·0 ± 22·4 for patients with hyperreactive rhinitis. We found a significant correlation of 0·95 between nasal eosinophils and nasal ECP. Nasal ECP and a subjective symptom score only correlate significantly for chronic sinusitis. We conclude that monitoring native nasal fluid ECP levels may be useful in the diagnosis and mangement of nasal inflammation. Elevated ECP in nasal secretion may originate from upregulated eosinophil degranulation and thus is a marker for local inflammation although not specific for any particular nasal disease.