Table 1. Characteristics of the study populations.*.
| Parameters | Steroid-treated asthmatic patients (n = 28) | Non-steroid-treated asthmatic patients (n = 23) | Control subjects (n = 35) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sex, male/female | |||
| Male | 15 | 9 | 11 |
| Female | 13 | 14 | 24 |
| Age, years, mean ± s.d. (range) | 43·5 ± 15·7 (21–69) | 37·1 ± 14·0 (20–63) | 40·9 ± 11·9 (22–66) |
| Lung functions | |||
| FEV1, l/min (% predicted) | 2·4 ± 0·8 (82·5 ± 14·9) | 2·6 ± 0·9 (89·9 ± 18·5) | NE |
| FEV1/FVC ratio (%) | 82·0 ± 7·1 | 86·5 ± 8·9 | NE |
| Inhaled steroid treatment | |||
| Daily dose, µg | 1110·7 ± 631·5 | 0 | 0 |
| Atopy (%) | 76 | 61 | 39 |
| Serum total IgE (kU/l)§ | 114 (60–332)† | 161 (93–465)‡ | 48 (10–129) |
| Serum ECP (µg/l)§ | 3·5 (2·2–5·4)‡ | 2·0 (2·0–3·0) | 2·0 (2·0–2·1) |
§
Values given as median (IQR).
‡
Higher than control subjects [P < 0·001 (Mann–Whitney rank sum test)].
†
Higher than control subjects [P < 0·05 (Mann–Whitney rank sum test)].
*
Values given as mean ± s.d., unless otherwise indicated. NE = not examined.