Objective To determine sputum ECP, IL-5, sIL-2R and IgE levels in children with asthma in different stages and investigate their correlation and clinical significance.Methods The sputa were obtained from children with asthma and normal control children.The concentration of ECP was assayed with pharmacia CAP system; IL-5, sIL-2R and IgE levels were measured with double-antibody ELISA technique. Results Levels of ECP, IL-5,sIL-2R and IgE in sputum during acute attack stage were significantly higher than those in remission stage and group normal control.The level of IL-5 in sputum positively correlated with that of sIL-2R and ECP respectively. The level of sIL-2R in sputum positively correlated with that of ECP and IgE respectively.Conclusions This findings suggest that all of four indices are involved in formation of airway inflammation. Their concentrations in sputum are sensitive to reflect changes of airway inflammation, and serves as safe and practical indices of monitoring the severity of disease and conducting anti-inflammation treatment,especially, ECP and sIL-2R are more sensitive.