Table 1.
Demographic, clinical and laboratory data of the asthmatic patients with or without steroid treatment and control subjects.
| Characteristics of Subjects | Non-Steroid-Treated Patients (n = 20) | Steroid-Treated Patients (n = 20) | Control Subjects (n = 20) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sex (male/female) | 9/11 | 8/12 | 10/10 |
| Age, year (mean ± SD, range) | 7.3 ± 0.6, 6–9 | 7.5 ± 0.6, 6–9 | 7.8 ± 0.9 |
| Eosinophil % in PB | 5.0 (4.0–6.0) *** | 5.5 (5.0–6.0) *** | 2.0 (1.0–2.0) |
| Basophil % in PB | 1.0 (0.0–1.0) | 1.0 (1.0–1.0) | 1.0 (1.0–1.0) |
| Presence of at least one | |||
| Positive allergen-specific IgE, n (%) | 18 (90%) | 19 (95%) | 0 (0) |
| House dust mite Dp1, n (%) | 12 (60%) | 13 (65%) | 0 (0) |
| House dust mite Df1, n (%) | 11 (55%) | 10 (50%) | 0 (0) |
| Cockroaches, n (%) | 8 (40%) | 7 (35%) | 0 (0) |
| Cat dander, n (%) | 4 (20%) | 5 (25%) | 0 (0) |
Values were given as median (IQR) or mean ± SD; PB: peripheral blood; *** p < 0.001 comparing with controls.