Follow-up studies performed after near-fatal attacks while patients were in stable clinical condition and receiving <10 mg·day−1 of oral prednisone
| Rapid-onset asthma (≤2 h) | n¶ | Slow-onset asthma (>2 h) | n¶ | p-value | |
| Subject n | 45 | 175 | |||
| Mmunological studies | |||||
| Eosinophil counts cells ×109 L−1 | 223±275 | 174±259 | 121 | ns | |
| Total IgE IU·ml−1 | 267±268 | 28 | 340±579 | 116 | ns |
| Positive skin-prick test# | 56 | 39 | 59 | 141 | ns |
| Positive prick test and/or IgE to soybean dust % | 4 | 39 | 7 | 142 | ns |
| Positive prick test and/or IgE to Alternaria spl % | 15 | 39 | 9 | 142 | ns |
| Spirometry | |||||
| FEV1 % of reference value | 73±25 | 36 | 75±23 | 146 | ns |
| ΔFEV1 postBD % | 10.8±12.7 | 29 | 8.8±8.5 | 132 | ns |
Data presented as percentages or median±sd unless otherwise stated
IgE: Immunoglobulin-E
FEV1: forced expiratory volume in one second
ΔFEV1: % of FEV1 increase after inhaling salbutamol
ns: nonsignificant
#: to at least one of the common allergens tested
¶: number of patients in whom the study could be performed