Eosinophil cationic protein is a potential surrogate marker of allergic contact dermatitis: A singlecenter, retrospective study of 216 patients = Eosinophil cationic protein is a potential surrogate marker of allergic contact dermatitis: A singlecenter, retrospective study of 216 patients

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Background: Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a common inflammatory skin disorder caused by contact with external agents. Patch testing is the current gold standard diagnostic test for ACD, but biomarkers for supporting the diagnosis of ACD are still lacking.
Objectives: To investigate the relationship between serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels and the clinical and laboratory findings in ACD.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 216 patients with suspected ACD and categorized patients into ACD and non-ACD groups. Demographic data, patch testing results, serum ECP, eosinophil count, and total IgE levels were assessed in both groups.
Results: In the ACD group, ECP levels were significantly higher than in non-ACD group. The optimal cutoff value of ECP to differentiate ACD from non-ACD with a receiver operating characteristic analysis was 16.95 μg/L, with a sensitivity of 66.9% and a specificity of 63.8%. Logistic regression analyses with independent variables indicated that patients with higher ECP levels had significantly higher risks of sensitization to the common ACD-inducing agents formaldehyde and captan.
Conclusion: Serum ECP is elevated in ACD patients compared to non-ACD patients. The positive association between specific contact allergens and serum ECP level may reflect the allergen-specific polarization in ACD.