Table 2

Differential cell counts in IS and BAL samples

Variable
COPD smokers
COPD ex-smokers
'Healthy' smokers
Healthy never-smokers
CS/CE
CS/HS
CS/HN
CE/HS
CE/HN
HS/HN

Induced sputum

Neutrophils
67.7 ± 7.7
75.9 ± 9.5
22.6 ± 3.3
16.1 ± 7.0
>0.05
<0.05
<0.01
0.05
0.01
>0.05
Eosinophils
4.5 ± 2.2
3.4 ± 1.6
1.8 ± 0.4
2.3 ± 0.5
>0.05
>0.05
>0.05
>0.05
>0.05
>0.05
Lymphocytes
4.7 ± 1.6
2.7 ± 0.9
6.3 ± 1.1
4.9 ± 0.8
>0.05
>0.05
>0.05
>0.05
>0.05
>0.05
Macrophages
23.1 ± 7.5
18.0 ± 3.5
69.3 ± 9.5
64.8 ± 10.2
>0.05
<0.05
<0.05
0.05
<0.05
>0.05

BAL

Recovery of BAL fluid
43.1 ± 8.3
59.3 ± 6.7
83.3 ± 6.9
81.0 ± 3.8
<0.05
<0.05
<0.05
<0.05
<0.05
>0.05
Neutrophils
17.4 ± 4.8
3.2 ± 1.5
2.7 ± 0.4
1.2 ± 0.5
<0.01
0.05
<0.01
>0.05
0.01
<0.01
Eosinophils
0.8 ± 0.3
0.8 ± 0.3
0.2 ± 0.1
0.2 ± 0.1
>0.05
>0.05
>0.05
>0.05
<0.05
>0.05
Lymphocytes
22.6 ± 6.5
19.8 ± 3.9
24.2 ± 4.5
21.0 ± 4.4
>0.05
>0.05
>0.05
>0.05
>0.05
>0.05
Macrophages
59.2 ± 6.9
76.2 ± 9.3
72.9 ± 10.6
77.6 ± 10.6
<0.01
>0.05
<0.05
>0.05
>0.05
>0.05

Values are mean percentage of total cells ± SEM. CS: COPD smokers; CE: COPD ex-smokers; HS: 'healthy' smokers; HN: healthy never-smokers.

Babusyte et al. Respiratory Research 2007 8:81   doi:10.1186/1465-9921-8-81