Table 3

Sputum cell counts and biochemical markers

Visit AVisit Bp valueICCC
Results are expressed as median (range).
p values indicates the value of the Wilcoxon rank sum test between visits A and B.
ICCC = intraclass coefficient of correlation.
Squamous cells (%)5 (1–46)6 (0–52)>0.050.04
Non-squamous cells (×106/g)1.8 (0.3–37.8)1.5 (0.3–15.5)>0.050.41
Viability (%)68 (46–94)72 (36–84)>0.050.53
Macrophages (%)35 (1–74)23 (2–92)>0.050.61
Lymphocytes (%)0.4 (0–2.4)1 (0.2–2.6)>0.050.10
Neutrophils (%)47 (13–99)55 (1–97)>0.050.82
Eosinophils (%)1 (0–35)2 (0–48)>0.050.74
Epithelial cells (%)4 (0–27)3 (0–15)>0.050.52
Albumin (µg/l)152 (43–380)133 (54–231)>0.050.29
Tryptase1.29 (0.31–7.32)1.36 (0.34–3.66)>0.050.65
Histamine (ng/ml)3.5 (1.1–66)4.9 (0.8–61)>0.050.77