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Table 2 Sputum characteristics in stable and exacerbated COPD

From: Dysregulation of the endothelial nitric oxide pathway is associated with airway inflammation in COPD

 

Stable COPD

Exacerbated COPD

Onset

Recovery

Total inflammatory cell count, 104/g sputum

193 (46–773)

202 (61–353)

157 (111–247)

Neutrophils, %

94 (84–95)

85 (70–94)

82 (60–92)

Neutrophils, 104/g sputum

182 (42–657)

196 (52–273)

107 (66–228)

Macrophages, %

5.3 (2.3–12)

9.0 (3.9–298)

8.0 (5.8–18)

Macrophages, 104/g sputum

9.4 (4.7–66)

12 (6.2–46)

13 (6.4–17)

Eosinophils, %

1.5 (0–3.6)

0.8 (0.2–4.6)

0.1 (0–0.5)

Eosinophils, 104/g sputum

2.9 (0–11.8)

1.1 (0.1–3.5)

0.1 (0–3.2)

Lymphocytes, %

0.3 (0–0.8)

0.2 (0–0.7)

0.1 (0–0.8)

Lymphocytes, 104/g sputum

0.2 (0–2.2)

0.1 (0–1.1)

0.1 (0–0.2)

  1. Groups were compared with unpaired t-test (stable vs. exacerbated at onset) or paired t-test (within exacerbation) after logarithmic transformation. Data are shown as median (interquartile range). All p values were > 0.10