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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2017 Sep 29.
Published in final edited form as: J Investig Med. 2016 Apr 6;64(5):1025–1034. doi: 10.1136/jim-2016-000101

Table 3.

Glucocorticoid treatment profiles in US and IT patients

Dallas, USA
Naples/Padova, Italy
Prednisone No prednisone p Value Prednisone No prednisone p Value
Number      21      23      31    11
Age (years)   47.3±9.3   51.5±10.9* 0.18   52.0±13.2 60.0±10.5* 0.06
Disease duration (months)      83±72      89±92 0.83     NA   NA
Height (m)   1.63±0.10   1.65±0.07 0.65   1.64±0.08 1.60±0.09 0.23
Weight (kg)   79.8±18.6   85.9±18.4* 0.29   75.8±12.55 71.2±12.11* 0.3
BMI (kg/m2)   30.2±8.0   31.5±7.1 0.58   28.4±4.8 27.9±3.6 0.73
Pulmonary function
FVC (L)   2.43±0.71*   2.49±0.60 0.78   3.27±1.07* 2.51±0.48 0.007
FVC (% predicted)      76±17*      77±14* 0.77      93±19*    98±11* 0.36
FEV1 (L)   1.87±0.64*   1.89±0.52 0.89   2.95±0.96* 1.96±0.26 0.0001
FEV1 (% predicted)      71±19*      73±14* 0.78      93±22*    92±10* 0.89
FEV1/FVC   0.76±0.09*   0.76±0.07 0.99   0.88±0.21* 0.78±0.02 0.04
FEV1/FVC (% predicted)   0.93±0.12*   0.94±0.08 0.75   0.99±0.10* 0.94±0.03 0.04
DLCO (mL/mm Hg/min)   13.9±3.4*   15.4±4.8 0.27   19.9±8.2* 15.7±1.9 0.02
DLCO (% predicted)      60±14*      63±16 0.49      77±14*    73±13 0.44
VA (L. BTPS)   3.54±0.69   3.98±1.04 0.14   4.25±1.86 1.91±2.05 0.17
DLCO/VA   3.92±0.70   3.89±0.70 0.89   3.41±1.52 4.61±3.37 0.60
Blood
Creatinine (μmol/L)      80±27      88±27 0.48      80±27    71±9 0.16
Total calcium (mmol/L)   2.35±0.08   2.35±0.10 0.87   2.38±0.10 2.38±0.10 0.98
Phosphorus (mmol/L)   1.03±0.23   1.16±0.23 0.09   1.13±0.32 1.16±0.26 0.88
Albumin (μmol/L)     5.7±0.6     5.7±0.6 0.68     5.4±0.7   5.4±1.3 0.93
PTH (pmol/L)     6.6±3.5     4.6±3.7 0.11     5.0±3.1   5.0±2.6 0.99
25-OHD (nmol/L)      45±20      45±25* 0.91      47±20    62±37* 0.22
1.25-(OH)2D (pmol/L)    104±39*    109±47 0.81      57±23*  104±16 0.09
24 h urine
Volume (L/24 h)   1.62±0.58*   1.86±0.93* 0.39   1.79±0.55* 1.79±0.50* 0.98
Calcium (mmol/24 h)   3.44±1.77*   3.77±2.89 0.68   8.13±4.29* 4.72±3.64 0.03
Creatinine (mmol/24 h) 10.88±4.39 11.52±3.84* 0.66 10.78±4.15 8.72±1.57* 0.23
FE-Ca (%)   1.27±0.69*   1.40±1.30* 0.71   2.53±0.91* 1.82±1.88* 0.59
Ca/Cr ratio (mmol/mmol)   0.34±0.17*   0.33±0.25 0.85   0.70±0.24* 0.51±0.50 0.58

Mean±SD. p Value indicates prednisone versus no prednisone.

*

Indicates p<0.05 between corresponding IT & US groups (eg, IT patient with prednisone vs US patient with prednisone). FE-Ca: Fractional excretion of calcium.

1,25-(OH)2D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D; 25-OHD, 25-hydroxyvitamin-D; BMI, body mass index; BTPS, body temperature and pressure, saturated with water vapor; DLCO, diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 s; FVC, forced vital capacity; VA, alveolar volume; IT, Italy; US, USA.