Summary of evidence regarding lipid-laden macrophage index (LLMI)
| First author [Ref.] | Comparison groups | Subjects n | LLMI |
| Colombo 44 | Respiratory symptoms without choking | 23 | 21±20 (0–72) |
| Respiratory symptoms with choking | 22 | 139±46 (86–241) | |
| Bauer 45 | Not chronic pulmonary aspiration | 62 | 43±42 (0–170) |
| Chronic pulmonary aspiration# | 22 | 112±63 (20–233) | |
| Knauer-Fischer 46 | Surgical controls | 18 | 60.2±23.6 (35–106) |
| Lung disease¶,+ | 18 | 119.6±28.8 (74–178) | |
| Kazachkov 47 | Healthy adult controls | 8 | 1.0±0.4 |
| Non-CF, uninfected GOR and/or aspiration suspected clinically | 21 | 19.2±4.5 | |
| CF, uninfected | 24 | 6.9±3.5 | |
| Moran 52 | Lactose assay negative | 46 | 121±29 |
| Lactose assay positive | 18 | 204±48 | |
| Ahrens 53 | Surgical controls | 20 | 6.7+ (1–21) |
| Lung disease control§ | 14 | 4.8+ (1–14) | |
| Pulmonary symptoms and GORƒ | 32 | 24.3+ (1–106) | |
| Sacco 54 | Respiratory symptoms, pH negative | 9 | 12+ (3–50) |
| Respiratory symptoms, pH positive | 11 | 52+ (5–105) |
Data are presented as mean±sd (range) or mean (range). CF: cystic fibrosis; GOR: gastro-oesophageal reflux. #: Classified based on variable combinations of positive upper gastrointestinal series, modified barium swallow and gastro-oesophageal scintigraphy and then “confirmed” by telephone follow-up documenting improvement after intervention; ¶: 12 out of 18 subjects with pneumonia during antileukemic therapy; +: median values; §: all with normal pH monitoring and barium oesophagram; ƒ: GOR confirmed in all by pH monitoring, barium oesophagram, and/or oesophageal biopsy.