Table 1.
Subject Characteristics and Baseline Biomarker Concentration in Plasma
| Healthy Controls, n=18 |
Asthmatics, n=22 |
p-value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, years | 25 (22–35) | 26 (24–33) | 0.76 |
| Sex (male/female), n | 9/9 | 12/10 | 0.78a |
| Atopy, n | 4 | 12 | 0.04a |
| FEV1, l | 4.0 (3.3–4.7) | 3.8 (2.9–4.5) | 0.67 |
| FEV1, %p | 101.3 (94.3–111.8) | 95.2 (87.5–109.4) | 0.25 |
| Positive exercise test, n | 1 | 9 | 0.013b |
| Fall in FEV1 during test, % | 4.6 (0.0–6.8) | 6.1 (3.0–18.8) | 0.067 |
| ICS, n | 0 | 15 | <0.001b |
| FeNO, ppb | 15.8 (9.5–35.1) | 21.8 (15.1–37.3) | 0.31 |
| Biomarkers in plasma | |||
| IL-13, pg/mL | 491 (413–104814) | 767 (352–12472) | 0.81 |
| TARC, pg/mL | 75 (52–248) | 70 (19–98) | 0.26 |
| Periostin, pg/mL | 495 (361–748) | 522 (329–857) | 0.76 |
| Cys-LT, pg/mL | 559 (509–660) | 646 (521–815) | 0.23 |
Notes: Data are presented as median (IQR) or number. Atopy was defined as having a positive skin prick-test of airborne allergens. Positive exercise test was defined as having ≥10% fall in FEV1 after the exercise challenge test. p-value= statistical difference between healthy controls and asthmatics using Mann–Whitney U-test, Chi2-testa or Fisher’s Exact testb.
Abbreviations: FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 s; ICS, inhaled corticosteroids; FeNO, fractional exhaled NO at flow 50 mL/s.