Anthropometric, spirometry and cytological characteristics of patients in both groups
| Prednisone | Fluticasone | p-value | |
| Subjects n | 20 | 19 | |
| Males n | 7 | 4 | |
| Age yrs | 34 (19–68) | 39 (20–69) | 0.46 |
| IC μg·day−1 | 10 (502±740) | 5 (568±553) | 0.28 |
| Symptom score | 2.6±0.7 | 2.5±0.8 | 0.57 |
| PEF L·min−1 | 289±99 | 315±98 | 0.44 and 0.07 |
| PEF % | 54±15 | 63±16 | |
| FEV1 L | 2.09±0.98 | 2.11±0.74 | 0.45 and 0.11 |
| FEV1 % | 62±20 | 69±19 | |
| Eosinophils % | 18±24 | 13±20 | 0.83 |
| Neutrophils % | 49±29 | 56±36 | 0.67 |
| Macrophages % | 28±19 | 28±27 | 0.59 |
| Lymphocytes % | 2±2 | 2±2 | 0.51 |
| Albumin sp/blood | 273±214/43±3 | 480±494/43±3 | 0.45 |
| α2-Macro sp/blood | 6±6/2±1 | 17±23/2±1 | 0.67 |
Data are presented as n (range), n (mean±sd) or mean±sd, unless otherwise stated. IC: previous treatment with inhaled corticosteroids and mean dose·day−1 received; PEF: peak expiratory flow; FEV1: forced expiratory volume in one second; albumin sp/blood: albumin level in sputum (mg·L−1)/blood (g·L−1); α2-macro sp/blood: α2-macroglobulin in sputum (mg·L−1)/blood (g·L−1).