Table 3 Correlations between matrix constituent concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and age, neutrophil and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) concentration, neutrophil elastase (NE) activity and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) in the cystic fibrosis (CF) group.
Age (years)Neutrophils (cells/ml)NE activity (μm/ml)MMP-9 (ng/ml)FEV1 (% predicted)
Glycosaminoglycans (μg/ml)r = 0.62, p<0.001 (0.40 to 0.80)r = 0.85, p<0.001 (0.73 to 0.92)r = 0.77, p<0.001 (0.59 to 0.87)r = 0.77, p<0.001 (0.59 to 0.87)r = −0.32, ns (−0.60 to 0.25)
Elastin (μg/ml)r = 0.40, p<0.05 (0.03 to 0.63)r = 0.82, p<0.001 (0.63 to 0.90)r = 0.72, p<0.001 (0.49 to 0.85)r = 0.59, p<0.001 (0.29 to 0.76)r = −0.45, p<0.05 (−0.74 to −0.01)
Collagen (μg/ml)r = 0.45, p<0.01 (0.13 to 0.71)r = 0.75, p<0.001 (0.52 to 0.88)r = 0.75, p<0.001 (0.57 to 0.89)r = 0.74, p<0.001 (0.46 to 0.85)r = −0.18, ns (−0.55 to 0.35)

  • Spearman rank correlations shown with 95% confidence intervals; ns, not significant.