TABLE 1.
CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH ASTHMA AND HEALTHY CONTROLS
| Normal | Mild–Moderate Asthma (GINA 1–3) | Severe Asthma (GINA 4–5) | |
| Number | 9 | 18 | 10 |
| Age* | 42 (5) | 49 (4) | 53 (3) |
| Male/female | 5/4 | 7/11 | 4/6 |
| Never/current/ex-smokers | 8/1/0 | 14/4/0 | 7/3/0 |
| Atopy, n (%) | 4 (44) | 12 (67) | 7 (70) |
| PC20FEV1, mg/ml† | >16 | 0.46 (0.17–1.3)‡ | 0.78 (0.26–2.3)‡ |
| FEV1, % predicted* | 94 (3) | 82 (7) | 77 (7)‡ |
| Pre-BD FEV1/FVC, %* | 82 (2) | 72 (2)‡ | 69 (5)‡ |
| BD response, %* | 0 (0) | 11 (4)‡ | 11 (3)‡ |
| Sputum cell counts | |||
| TCC* | 0.9 (0.1) | 2.4 (0.5) | 4.7 (1.1)‡ |
| Eosinophil, %§ | 0.4 (0.8) | 1.0 (5.2) | 4.6 (13.3)‡ |
| Neutrophil, %* | 56 (12) | 48 (7) | 62 (8) |
| Macrophage, %* | 37 (12) | 39 (7) | 26 (6)‡ |
| Lymphocyte, %* | 2.0 (1.5) | 1.2 (0.3) | 0.8 (0.4) |
| Epithelial cells, %* | 5 (4) | 6 (1) | 2 (1) |
| 8-oxodG semiquantitative score | |||
| Epithelium§ | 4.5 (1.25) | 5 (0.5) | 5 (0.75) |
| Lamina propria§ | 4 (1) | 5 (0.75) | 5 (0.75) |
| Airway smooth muscle§ | 2 (2.25) | 4.5 (1.75)‡ | 4.5 (2)‡ |
Definition of abbreviations: BD = bronchodilator; GINA = Global Initiative for Asthma; 8-oxodG = 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine; TCC = total cell count.
*
Mean (SEM).
†
Geometric mean (95% confidence interval).
‡
P < 0.05 compared to control.
§
Median (interquartile range).