Table 2.
Percentage of sputum eosinophils and neutrophils, disease duration and FEV1/FVC ratio in asthma patients sub-classified according to the optimal cut-off points for IL-25 mRNA expression and IL-25 protein concentration obtained from ROC analysis
| Parameter | IL-25 mRNA | IL-25 protein | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| < 0.76 fold change (n = 27) | ≥ 0.76 fold change (n = 13) | P-value | < 289 pg/ml (n = 8) | ≥ 289 pg/ml (n = 30) | P-value | |
| Eosinophils (%) | 5 (2–17) | 1 (0–5) | 0.003 | 3 (2–24) | 3.5 (1–7) | 0.604 |
| Neutrophils (%) | 52 (38–65) | 46 (41–54) | 0.207 | 30 (25–47) | 53 (43–63) | 0.005 |
| Disease duration [months] | 180 (120–300) | 72 (24–144) | 0.04 | 96 (10–396) | 120 (36–216) | 0.604 |
| FEV1/FVC | 65.5 (59.4–72.1) | 81 (69–97) | 0.005 | 74.3 (60–78.8) | 68.9 (63–81.2) | 0.919 |
| IgE [IU/ml] | 114 (14.8–341) | 48 (18–169) | 0.335 | 101 (42–440) | 53 (15–169) | 0.240 |
| ICS [μg budesonide] | 640 (0–800) | 0 (0–400) | 0.021 | 0 (0–1200) | 400 (0–800) | 0.82 |
Values expressed as median and IQR, p-value obtained in Mann-Whitney U test. ROC – receiver-operating characteristic, FEV1 – forced expiratory volume at 1st s, FVC – forced vital capacity.