Table 3

Primary and secondary outcome measures at randomisation and week 8

	Ciclesonide (n=15)			Placebo (n=15)
	Randomisation	Week 8	p Value	Randomisation	Week 8	p Value	Between group p
Sputum eosinophils (%)*	0.0 (0.0–2.3) (n=10)	2.3 (0.5–13.5) (n=11)	0.263	0.0 (0.0–4.3) (n=11)	4.5 (1.0–9.5) (n=13)	0.041	0.317
Sputum neutrophils (%)*	77.5 (47.6–96.5) (n=10)	55.8 (38.8–88.5) (n=11)	0.017	79.5 (64.5–94.0) (n=11)	70.5 (56.8–89.3) (n=13)	0.799	0.155
FEV₁ (litres)†	2.6 (0.7)	2.5 (0.7)	0.252	2.1 (0.7)	2.0 (0.6)	0.115	0.699
ACQ score†	1.4 (1.1)	1.8 (1.4)	0.175	1.6 (0.8)	2.3 (1.3)	0.051	0.318
AQLQ score†	5.8 (1.0)	5.4 (1.5)	0.145	5.5 (1.2)	5.0 (1.4)	0.243	0.800
Fe_NO (ppb)‡	32.4 (0.4)	40.6 (0.4)	0.097	30.7 (0.3)	34.9 (0.3)	0.292	0.598
Corrected alveolar NO (ppb)*	1.7 (0.3–2.5)	1.4 (0.1–3.0)	0.925	2.0 (0.9–3.1)	2.4 (1.1–3.6)	0.730	0.528
Blood eosinophils (×10⁹/L)*	0.1 (0.0–0.2)	0.3 (0.1–0.6)	0.013	0.2 (0.0–0.4)	0.3 (0.2–0.5)	0.065	0.128

*Median (IQR).
†Mean (SD).
‡Geometric mean (log SD).
ACQ, Asthma Control Questionnaire; AQLQ, Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire; Fe_NO, fractional exhaled nitric oxide; FEV₁, forced expiratory volume in 1 s; NO, nitric oxide.