Table 1. Clinical and functional characteristics of subjects.
| Characteristics | Non asthmatics | Asthmatics |
| No. of patients | 33 | 22 |
| Gender (M/F) | 26/7 | 2/20 |
| Age (yr) | 61±13 | 41±17.5 |
| Age range (yr) | 19–79 | 19–72 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 26±4.5 | 26±6.5 |
| Total serum IgE (kUI/L) | ND | 473±777 |
| Allergic/Non allergic | 0/33 | 17/5 |
| Exacerbations (nb/yr) | ND | 1±1.4 |
| Current treatment | ||
| OCS (n) | 0 | 2 |
| ICS (n) | 1 | 18 |
| Dose of ICS | 37±193 | 1204±877 |
| LABA (n) | 0 | 15 |
| Smoking history | ||
| Never (n) | 8 | 19 |
| Former (n) | 10 | 3 |
| Current (n) | 15 | 0 |
| Pack years | 37±28.4 | 0.7±2.3 |
| FEV1 | ||
| Liters | 3.0±0.6 | 2.5±0.9 |
| Percentage of predicted value | 90.0±14.2 | 84.3±17.8 |
| FEV1∶FVC ratio (% of FVC) | 77±6.8 | 72.7±10.7 |
| FEF25–75 | ||
| Liters sec−1 | 3±0.9 | 2.2±1.2 |
| Percentage of predicted value | 74±26.8 | 57.5±25.2 |
Data are mean ± SD. BMI: body mass index. OCS: oral corticosteroid. ICS: inhaled corticosteroid. LABA: long acting beta2 agonist. FEV1: forced expiratory volume in one second. FVC: forced vital capacity. FEF 25–75: forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75% of FVC.