Table 2 Total and differential cell counts in sputum of asthmatic and control patients.

Sputum weight, g

4.35 (1.43–8.92)

3 (0.75–6.74)

Viability, %

92 (77–100)

92 (71–100)

Squamous cells, %

10 (0–33)

5 (0–13)

Total nonsquamous cell, × 10³/g

1150 (260–25390)

1457 (150–2180)

Macrophages, %

41.6 (4–83)^a

59.8 (25–76.4)

Macrophages, × 10³/g

550 (85–5388)

761 (334–1513)

Eosinophils, %

5.2 (0–67)^a

0.2 (0–7.2)

Eosinophils, × 10³/g

59 (0–3555)^a

2.1 (0–94)

Neutrophils, %

23.2 (1.4–80.6)

17 (5–55)

Neutrophils, × 10³/g

343 (7–20464)

187 (42–1150)

Lymphocytes, %

1.8 (0–5.2)^a

4.4 (0–13)

Lymphocytes, ×10³/g

16 (0–196)

45 (0–170)

Epithelial cells, %

8 (1.4–48.4)

6.8 (1.8–33.2)

Epithelial cells (10³/g)

145 (25–465)

131 (32–375)