Table 3 The number of inflammatory cells in bronchial biopsies and induced sputum of COPD patients

CD3

123.5 (69.2 - 182.5)

CD4

48.0 (27.7 - 72.0)

CD8

21.5 (11.0 - 37.2)

Plasma cells

8.5 (3.5 - 14.5)

Mast cells

26.5 (19.0 - 34.5)

Macrophages

8.5 (4.5 - 13.0)

Neutrophils

4.0 (2.0 - 8.4)

Eosinophils

1.5 (0.5 - 4.2)

Induced sputum

Absolute numbers (10⁴/ml)

Percentage (%)

Total cell count*

139.7 (77.9 - 311.3)

Neutrophils

101.6 (46.8 - 228.5)

72.8 (59.9 - 81.7)

Macrophages

31.1 (17.9 - 61.1)

22.1 (14.8 - 33.2)

Eosinophils

1.3 (0.4 - 4.5)

1.1 (0.3 - 2.2)

Lymphocytes

2.2 (1.1 - 6.8)

1.7 (1.2 - 2.3)

Epithelial cells

1.4 (0.6 - 3.4)

1.0 (0.3 - 2.3)