| COPD GOLD I-III (n = 19) | Asymptomatic smokers (n = 26) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
 | rho | p-value | rho | p-value |
Cigarettes/day | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Neutrophils sputum, % | -0.46 | 0.02 | -0.24 | NS |
   Macrophages sputum, % | 0.44 | 0.027 | 0.35 | 0.095 |
   Eosinophils sputum, % | -0.19 | NS | -0.39 | 0.057 |
   Eosinophils sputum, 106/ml | -0.11 | NS | -0.44 | 0.029 |
   CD68 biopsy, % pos. area | 0.69 | 0.002 | 0.46 | 0.029 |
   EG2 biopsy, % pos. area | -0.79 | 0.001 | 0.02 | NS |
Pack-years smoking | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   CD68 biopsy, %pos. area | 0.48 | 0.043 | 0.21 | NS |
FEV 1 post BD, %pred. | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Neutrophils sputum, % | -0.31 | NS | 0.15 | NS |
   Macrophages sputum, % | 0.41 | 0.046 | -0.22 | NS |
   IL-8 sputum, ng/ml | -0.54 | 0.007 | 0.15 | NS |
   CD68 biopsy, %pos. area | 0.33 | NS | 0.18 | NS |
   AA1 biopsy, %pos. area | 0.53 | 0.02 | 0.09 | NS |