Variability of sputum inflammatory cells in asthmatic patients receiving corticosteroid therapy: A prospective study using multiple samples

The subjects were taking 176 to 880 μg/d fluticasone (or equivalent) with or without β-agonists, a leukotriene receptor antagonist, or theophylline; used 2 or fewer steroid bursts in the previous year and none in the previous 3 months with less than 30 days of oral steroids in the previous 12 months; had an FEV1 of 70% or greater of predicted value and 90% or greater of personal best in previous 2 years; and had 1 or more unscheduled visits for asthma in the previous 12 months.  Severe asthma[low *] (n = 37) Moderate asthma[low *] (n = 24) P value Age (y) 47.6 ± 11.76 51.6 ± 10.2 NS Sex (M/F) 21/16 14/10 NS FEV1 (% predicted)[dagger] 66.6 ± 21.9 85.0 ± 12.2 .0003 Prebronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratio 65.7 ± 11.9 73.1 ± 5.5 .0058 BMI (kg/m2) 28.2 ± 6.1 27.2 ± 6.3 NS Subjects with atopy[double dagger] 31 (84%) 21 (88%) NS Dose of inhaled corticosteroid (μg/d)[low *] 1,275 ± 324 618 ± 325