Selected induced sputum: markers of inflammation
| Healthy | Stable asthma | Smokers' bronchitis | |||
| No COPD | COPD–Eo | COPD+Eo | |||
| TCC ×106·g−1 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 11.1 | 8.3 |
| Eosinophils % | 0.5 | 5.2 | 0.3 | 1 | 5.4 |
| Neutrophils % | 24.5 | 46.9 | 33 | 83.4 | 73.4 |
| ECP µg·L−1 | 288 | 1040 | 352 | 2560 | 5240 |
| Elastase µg·L−1 | 297 | 534 | 241 | 2512 | 2996 |
| Fibrinogen µg·L−1 | 440 | 2080 | 708 | 18100 | 24600 |
| IL‐5 pg·mL−1 | UL | 46.3 | UL | UL | UL |
Data are presented as median values
COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Eo: eosinophilia (>3%) in sputum
TCC: total cell count
ECP: eosinophil cationic protein
IL: interleukin
UL: under limit of detection
Reproduced from 114 with permission