| AIA (n = 11) | ATA (n = 10) | |
| Mean (range) age (years) | 46.0 (35–63) | 45.5 (27–56) |
| Sex | 6F, 5M | 8F, 2M |
| Mean (SD) FEV1 (l) | 2.7 (0.7) | 2.9 (0.7) |
| Mean (SD) FEV1 (% predicted) | 85.5 (12.5) | 97.2 (13.2) |
| Geometric mean (range) aspirin PD20 (µmol)† | 98 (2–600) | >600 μmol (highest cumulative dose) |
| Treatments | ||
| ICS (n) | 9 | 7 |
| Median (range) daily ICS dose in those treated (µg budesonide equivalent) | 640 (150–1500) | 400 (200–400)* |
| Nasal steroids (n) | 8 | 2 |
| Long-acting β2 agonists (n) | 7 | 4 |
| Short-acting β2 agonists (n) | 10 | 7 |
| Leukotriene receptor antagonist (n) | 4 | 0 |
| H1-receptor antagonists (n) | 5 | 2 |
| Median (IQR) sputum cell count | ||
| Total cell count (×106/ml) | 5.1 (3.9–14.4) | 3.0 (2.0–4.7) |
| Eosinophils (%)‡ | 6.0 (1.6–13.3) | 1.1 (0.2–3.3) |
| Neutrophils (%)‡ | 19.1 (12.0–34.7) | 19.5 (3.2–29.8) |
| Macrophages (%)‡ | 62.0 (55.2–77.2) | 73.2 (57.2–83.1) |
| Lymphocytes (%)‡ | 2.0 (1.9–3.6) | 2.2 (1.1–5.1) |
| Ciliated cells (%)‡ | 1.4 (0.7–2.6) | 2.4 (1.3–3.3) |
| Squamous cells (%)§ | 7.2 (6.4–27.0) | 15.0 (9.6–37.2) |
*Significant difference between the two groups as calculated by Mann-Whitney rank-sum test, p = 0.020. †Determined at visit 2 (see table 2). ‡Percentage of total number of non-squamous cells. §Percentage of total cell number.
AIA, aspirin-intolerant asthma; ATA, asthma-tolerant asthma; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 s; ICS, inhaled corticosteroids; PD20, dose provoking a fall in FEV1 of 20% or more.