Table 3 Effect of using 3 different corticosteroids on clinical and biochemical outcomes of the treatment groups (represented as (mean ± SD))

FEV₁(% predicted)

58.34 ± 22.46

56.38 ± 16.1

59.59 ± 21.21

0.797^Θ

B: 0.264^◊

D: 0.082^◊

P: 0.308^◊

FVC (% predicted)

64.97 ± 18.54

63.59 ± 14.96

63.57 ± 19.46

0.932^Θ

B: <0.001^◊

D: <0.001^◊

P: 0.016^◊

FEV₁/FVC Ratio

85.37 ± 12.59

85.09 ± 10.42

82.41 ± 12.78

0.506^Θ

B: 0.347^◊

D: 0.965^◊

P: 0.7^◊

6MWD (m)

273.3 ± 69.9

268.94 ± 71.74

256.45 ± 103.15

0.672^Θ

B: 0.001^◊

D: 0.002^◊

P: 0.002^◊

Desaturation (% SpO₂)

6.37 ± 5.61

5.48 ± 4.5

7.71 ± 6.64

0.256^Θ

B: 0.001^◊

D: 0.001^◊

P: 0.05^◊

KL-6 (U/ml)

554.48 ± 129.69

578.7 ± 91.92

671.88 ± 162.63

0.001^ΘΔ

B: <0.001^◊

D: 0.054^◊

P: 0.921^◊

ESR (mm)

38.77 ± 21.13

30.06 ± 16.04

42.3 ± 24.52

0.048^ΘΔ

B: <0.001^◊

D: <0.001^◊

P: <0.001^◊

CRP (mg/L)

12.29 ± 13.33

9.1 ± 4.79

15.34 ± 15.36

0.105^Θ

B: 0.003^◊

D: <0.001^◊

P: 0.006^◊