TABLE 2.
Biomarkers in blood and exhaled air
| Severe nonsmoking asthma(n = 342) | Smokers and ex‐smokers with severe asthma(n = 110) | Mild/moderate nonsmoking asthma(n = 93) | Healthy nonsmoking controls (n = 100) | p‐Value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subjects with FeNO, n | 320 | 103 | 75 | 86 | |
| FeNO(ppb) | 31.00 (20.00, 54.00) | 27.00 (18.00, 59.50) | 28.00 (19.00, 47.00) | 15.00 (12.00, 19.75) | <.001 |
| Subjects with blood results, n | 341 | 107 | 93 | 100 | |
| Neutrophil count(10∧9/L) | 3.72 (2.91, 4.61) | 4.10 (3.30, 4.98) | 3.78 (2.91, 4.74) | 3.45 (2.86, 4.34) | 0.004 |
| Eosinophil count(10∧9/L) | 0.24 (0.11, 0.45) | 0.24 (0.13, 0.46) | 0.21 (0.13, 0.30) | 0.08 (0.05, 0.13) | <.001 |
| Neutrophil (%) | 57.40 (51.80, 64.04) | 61.00 (53.15, 66.65) | 59.40 (53.60, 65.50) | 58.70 (54.35, 62.75) | 0.066 |
| Eosinophil (%) | 3.60 (1.90, 7.50) | 3.50 (2.05, 6.45) | 3.50 (2.00, 5.00) | 1.20 (0.80, 2.22) | <.001 |
| Subjects with IgE and ECP results, n | 281 | 90 | 77 | 73 | |
| ECP*(μg/L) | 7.29 (4.00, 13.70) | 7.71 (4.36, 15.13) | 7.38 (3.73, 12.50) | 3.37 (2.35, 5.54) | <.001 |
| IgE Total (KU/L) | 161.00 (58.50, 395.00) | 232.00 (97.38, 534.50) | 171.00 (68.00, 393.00) | 32.40 (18.50, 94.30) | 0.001 |
| Atopy* | |||||
| above normal | 137 (48.8) | 49 (54.4) | 48 (62.3) | 19 (26.0) | <.001 |
| normal | 144 (51.2) | 41 (45.6) | 29 (37.7) | 54 (74.0) |
Data are presented as median values (interquartile range) for continuous variables and as n (%) for categorical variables.
Abbreviations: ECP, eosinophil cationic protein; FeNO, fractional level of nitric oxide in exhaled breath; HX2, house dust mix; MX2, mold mix; TX4, tree pollen mix; WX5, weed pollen mix; FX5, food allergens.
Specific IgE (HX2, FX5, MX2, TX4, and WX5 Phadiatop) <0.35 Ku/L is considered non‐atopic.
Note: The Kruskal‐Wallis test was here used for continuous data and Fisher's exact test for discrete data.
Note: Atopy (above normal) means the subjects have at least one allergen above normal (> .35).