Table 1.
Cell number, protein and TNF-α levels, in mucus dissolved samples obtained control subjects and mechanically ventilated (MV) patients.
| Sampling technic | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AC | BLF | BW5 | BW40 | BAL | VBS | |
| Cells/ml × 103 | ||||||
| Control (N = 5) | – | 438 ± 24 | 745 ± 43 | 830 ± 46 | 735 ± 32 | 726 ± 21 |
| MV patients (N = 35) | 978 ± 92 | 544 ± 64 | 772 ± 99 | 1052 ± 218 | 1173 ± 193 | 1431 ± 216* |
| Protein levels (μg/ml) | ||||||
| Control (N = 5) | – | 16.9 ± 0.8 | 16.8 ± 1.0 | 17.4 ± 1.7 | 13.8 ± 0.6 | 16.1 ± 0.8 |
| MV patients (N = 35) | 14.9 ± 1.2 | 11.0 ± 1.1* | 10.5 ± 1.1* | 11.4 ± 1.3* | 13.5 ± 1.0 | 16.0 ± 1.5 |
| TNF-α (pg/ml) | ||||||
| Control (N = 5) | – | 405 ± 152 | 365 ± 110 | 487 ± 88 | 563 ± 59 | 678 ± 153 |
| MV Patients (N = 14) | 953 ± 112 | 837 ± 147 | 785 ± 86* | 859 ± 111* | 985 ± 119* | 946 ± 135 |
Sampling with tracheobronchial aspiration (AC), aspiration of bronchial lining fluid (BLF), bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), bronchial washings (BW5, BW40) and visible bronchial secretions obtained via bronchoscopy (VBS). N refers to the number of subjects and data are presented as means ± SEM. *p < 0.05 for comparisons between control and patients (Mann–Whitney test).