Characteristics of subjects undergoing bronchoscopy
| Asthmatics | Normal controls | ||||
|
BAL cells (n=89) |
Biopsies (n=80) |
BAL cells (n=30) |
Biopsies (n=24) | ||
| Sex (M:F) | 52:37 | 45:35 | 21:9 | 15:9 | |
| Median (range) age (years) | 42 (20–70) | 42 (21–69) | 30 (20–61) | 29 (20–61) | |
| Atopy (+/–) | 72/17 | 63/17 | 13/17 | 13/11 | |
| ICS use (+/–) | 72/17 | 66/14 | 0/30 | 0/24 | |
| Median (range) ICS dose/day (BDP)1-150 | 400 (100–1500) | 400 (100–1000) | – | – | |
| Median (range) PD20methacholine (mg) | 0.028 (0.001–6.4) | 0.026 (0.001–6.4) | >3.4 | >3.4 | |
| Median (range) FEV1(%) | 90 (60–128) | 88 (58–120) | 112 (80–132) | 108 (91–132) | |
ICS = inhaled corticosteroid; FEV1 = forced expiratory volume in one second; PD20 = dose of methacholine provoking a fall in FEV1 of 20% or more.
↵1-150 Dose in μg per day of beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP).