TY  - JOUR
TI  - Immunological and epithelial barrier dysfunction in EGPA: the possible role of new biomarkers
AU  - Caruso, Cristiano
AU  - Baglivo, Ilaria
AU  - Colantuono, Stefania
AU  - Zavarella, Maria Antonietta
AU  - Longhino, David
AU  - Laface, Chiara
AU  - Bruno, Laura
AU  - Lucca, Gabriele
AU  - Selvi, Fabio Romano
AU  - Carluccio, Eleonora Di
AU  - Ciasca, Gabriele
AU  - Basile, Umberto
AU  - Niccolini, Benedetta
AU  - Rigante, Mario
AU  - Corso, Eugenio De
AU  - Gasbarrini, Antonio
AU  - Capoccetta, Giovanni Battista
AU  - Anselmi, Paola
AU  - Detoraki, Aikaterini
AU  - Greco, Elisabetta
AU  - Bondi, Benedetta
AU  - Patella, Vincenzo
AU  - Giacco, Stefano Del
PY  - 2026
JO  - Exploration of Asthma & Allergy
VL  - 4
SP  - 1009127
DO  - 10.37349/eaa.2026.1009127
UR  - https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/eaa/Article/1009127
AB  - Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a rare systemic vasculitis with heterogeneous clinical manifestations. Identifying reliable biomarkers is crucial to predicting disease evolution and guiding therapy. We analyzed clinical, biological, and functional data from 33 patients with EGPA in the vasculitic phase. Blood eosinophil count (BEC), eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP), antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs), specific IgE to staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE-IgE), and serum free light chains (FLCs) were evaluated. Severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA) and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNPs) were present in 100% and 88.5% of patients, respectively. Median BEC was 1950 cells/mm3, with elevated ECP (60.0 µg/L). SE-IgE was detected in 54.2% of patients. A significant negative correlation emerged between λ FLCs and oral corticosteroid (OCS) dose (r = –0.58, p = 0.009). Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was significantly lower in C-ANCA+ patients (p = 0.006). ECP and SE-IgE may serve as markers of eosinophilic activity and epithelial barrier damage in EGPA. λ FLCs might be a useful indicator of OCS exposure and treatment response. These biomarkers could support the evaluation of disease evolution and treatment response.
ER  -