Table I.

Characteristics of the study population

Charactristics	Atopic asthma subjects	Healthy control subjects
	n = 23	n = 16
Age, yr	50 (27–65)	34 (24–46)
Sex (male/female)	9/14	10/7
Onset of asthma (childhood/adulthood)	8/17	–
FEV1, percentage predicted	68 (31–98)	107 (102–121)
Percentage of PEF variability	20 (12–69)	ND
Skin test positive	23 (100%)	ND

Data are presented as median with interquartile ranges. FEV1, forced expiratory volume in the first second; PEF, peak expiratory flow; ND, not done.