Numbers of mast cells and neutrophils within submucosal mucous glands in cartilaginous airways, and percentage of degranulated mast cells in submucosal mucous glands only and across the entire airway wall
| Fatal asthma | Non-fatal asthma | Controls | |
|---|---|---|---|
| (n=8) | (n=8) | (n=8) | |
| *p<0.05 compared with controls; **p<0.05 compared with cases of fatal asthma and controls; †p<0.05 compared with glands only; ‡p<0.05 compared with cases of non-fatal asthma and controls. | |||
| Mast cells (/mm2) | 23 (6) | 39 (9)** | 23 (3) |
| Neutrophils (/mm2) | 3 (1)* | 4 (2)* | 0.06 (0.002) |
| % degranulated mast cells (glands only) | 90 (5)‡ | 83 (6)* | 45 (9) |
| % degranulated mast cells (total airway wall) | 77 (5)†‡ | 65 (6)*† | 42 (4) |