Total and differential cell counts in induced sputum
| COPD(n = 28) | Never smokers(n = 20) | Smokers(n = 14) | Former smokers(n = 14) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data are presented as median (IQR). | ||||
| *p<0.05 v smokers; †p<0.01 v never smokers; ‡p<0.05 v former smokers; §p<0.05 v never smokers; ¶p<0.01 v smokers. | ||||
| Total inflammatory cells (×103/mg) | 14.0 (8–21)* | 6.5 (5–15) | 5.6 (4–8) | 10.8 (8–18)* |
| Macrophages (%) | 34.8 (18–43)*† | 50.4 (38–68)‡ | 52.3 (30–66) | 36.6 (24–52) |
| Macrophages (×103/mg) | 4.0 (2.1–6.4) | 3.9 (2.9–5.1) | 2.3 (1.8–3.5) | 4.2 (2.6–5.6) |
| Neutrophils (%) | 61.5 (56–75)*† | 48.0 (27–59)‡ | 46.1 (32–66) | 61.1 (47–75) |
| Neutrophils (×103/mg) | 9.1 (4.5–15.0)§¶ | 3.3 (1.0–9.8) | 2.3 (1.5–4.5)‡ | 6.3 (3.9–13.0) |
| Eosinophils (%) | 1.5 (0.5–3.1)† | 0.2 (0.0–0.7) | 1.0 (0.6–1.6)† | 0.5 (0.0–1.8) |
| Eosinophils (×103/mg) | 0.1 (0.0–0.6)† | 0.0 (0.0–0.1)* | 0.1 (0.0–0.1) | 0.1 (0.0–0.1) |
| Lymphocytes (%) | 0.5 (0.2–1.3)† | 1.4 (0.9–2.9)‡ | 0.2 (0.2–0.9)† | 0.6 (0.3–1.4) |
| Lymphocytes (×103/mg) | 0.1 (0.0–0.2) | 0.1 (0.1–0.2) | 0.0 (0.0–0.0)† | 0.1 (0.0–0.1)* |