Median (IQR) stable versus exacerbation values for sputum markers and plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels in paired sputum subsets (n=14)
| Stable | Exacerbation | p value | |
| Sputum ET-1 (pg/ml) | 5.37 (0.97–21.95) | 34.68 (13.77–51.95) | 0.028 |
| IL-6 (pg/ml) | 181 (61–249) | 181 (35–261) | 0.594 |
| IL-8 (pg/ml) | 802 (321–1618) | 789 (183–1745) | 0.594 |
| TCC (×106/ml) | 1.24 (0.24–5.97) | 2.71 (1.98–17.98) | 0.111 |
| Neutrophils (×106/ml) | 1.08 (0.14–4.26) | 1.97 (1.29–15.46) | 0.142 |
| Macrophages (×106/ml) | 0.20 (0.06–1.10) | 0.52 (0.36–1.71) | 0.086 |
| Lymphocytes (×106/ml) | 0.06 (0.03–0.59) | 0.24 (0.15–0.72) | 0.142 |
| Eosinophils (×106/ml) | 0.24 (0.15–0.72) | 0.10 (0.00–0.11) | 0.917 |
| Plasma ET-1 (pg/ml) | 0.49 (0.23–0.86) | 0.61 (0.36—0.84) | 0.173 |