Effect of ebastine on serum eosinophil cationic protein levels in patients with bronchial asthma

Objective: This study evaluated the effects of ebastine on serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels in patients with bronchial asthma. Patients: Twenty patients with bronchial asthma (11 patients with atopic disease and nine with non-atopic disease) were enrolled in the study. Methods: In an open-label design, all patients received ebastine 10 mg/day for 4 weeks and serum ECP levels, peripheral blood eosinophil counts, morning peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and thresholds for airway hyper-responsiveness (D(min) in asthgraphy) were determined before and after treatment. Results: Serum ECP levels and peripheral blood eosinophil counts were significantly decreased. By disease type, no significant change was found in the non atopic patients, while the serum ECP level was significantly (p < 0.001) decreased in the atopic patients. Furthermore, no significant change in D(min) was found but PEFR was significantly (p < 0.019) increased in the atopic type. Conclusion: Ebastine not only inhibits type I allergic reactions, but may also inhibit airway inflammation by reducing serum ECP levels, particularly in patients with atopic bronchial asthma.